Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Import Statistics Relating to Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs); Invitation for Public Comment on CNL Waivers Subject to Potential Revocation Based on New Statutory Thresholds, Possible De Minimis Waivers, and Product Redesignations, 10826-10828 [E8-3805]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2008 / Notices
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Jefferson
Conference Room, Washington, DC
20408.
Purpose: To solicit public reaction to
the issues and recommendations
covered in the PIDB’s recent report,
‘‘Improving Declassification.’’ (See:
https://www.archives.gov/
declassification/pidb/improvingdeclassification.pdf.)
This meeting will be open to the
public. However, due to space
limitations and access procedures, the
name and telephone number of
individuals planning to attend must be
submitted to the PIDB staff at the
Information Security Oversight Office
(ISOO) no later than Wednesday, March
12, 2008. The PIDB staff will provide
additional instructions for gaining
access to the location of the meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee
H. Johnson, PIDB Staff, Information
Security Oversight Office, National
Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20408,
telephone number (202) 357–5039.
Dated: February 21, 2008.
William J. Bosanko,
Acting Director, Information Security
Oversight Office.
[FR Doc. E8–3865 Filed 2–27–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515–01–P
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Designation of Twenty-six Counties as
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice lists twenty-six
counties designated as additions to the
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
(HIDTA) Program by the Director of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP). These new counties are:
Letcher County in Kentucky and
Hamilton and Washington Counties in
Tennessee as additions to the
Appalachia HIDTA; Barrow, Bartow,
Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette,
Forsyth and Henry Counties in Georgia
and Durham, Johnston, Wake, Wayne
and Wilson Counties in North Carolina
as additions to the Atlanta HIDTA;
Shasta County, California as an addition
to the Central Valley California HIDTA;
Benton, Jefferson, Pulaski and
Washington Counties in Arkansas as
additions to the Gulf Coast HIDTA; Rock
Island County, Illinois as an addition to
the Midwest HIDTA; Chester and
Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania as
additions to the Philadelphia/Camden
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18:23 Feb 27, 2008
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HIDTA; and Midland and Ector
Counties in Texas as additions to the
Southwest Border HIDTA West Texas
Region.
The new counties are designated
pursuant to Office of National Drug
Control Policy Reauthorization Act of
2006 codified at 21 USCS 1706 et seq,
to promote more effective coordination
of drug control efforts. In considering
whether to designate an area under this
section as a High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area, the Director
considered, in addition to such other
criteria the Director, ONDCP considers
to be appropriate, the extent to which:
(1) The area is a significant center of
illegal drug production, manufacturing,
importation, or distribution; (2) state
and local law enforcement agencies
have committed resources to respond to
the drug trafficking problem in the area,
thereby indicating a determination to
respond aggressively to the problem; (3)
drug-related activities in the area are
having a significant harmful impact in
the area, and in other areas of the
country; and (4) a significant increase in
allocation of Federal resources is
necessary to respond adequately to
drug-related activities in the area. This
action will support local, state and
Federal law enforcement officers in
assessing regional drug threats,
designing strategies to combat the
threats, developing initiatives to
implement the strategies, and evaluating
the effectiveness of their coordinated
efforts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Comments and questions regarding this
notice should be directed to Ms. Cheryl
C. Nolan, Acting Deputy Director for
State, Local and Tribal Affairs, Office of
National Drug Control Policy, Executive
Office of the President, Washington, DC
20503; (202) 395–6912.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of
February, 2008.
John P. Walters,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8–3779 Filed 2–27–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3180–02–P
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP): Import Statistics Relating to
Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs);
Invitation for Public Comment on CNL
Waivers Subject to Potential
Revocation Based on New Statutory
Thresholds, Possible De Minimis
Waivers, and Product Redesignations
Office of the United States
Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the
public of the availability of full 2007
calendar year import statistics relating
to competitive need limitations (CNLs)
under the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) program. Public
comments are invited and must be
submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, March 21,
2008, to FR0441@USTR.EOP.GOV
regarding the potential revocation of
CNL waivers that meet the new
statutory thresholds set forth by section
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2463(d)(4)(B)(ii)), as amended
by Public Law 109–432. Additionally,
public comments are invited and must
be submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, March
28, 2008, to FR0618@USTR.EOP.GOV
regarding possible de minimis CNL
waivers with respect to particular
articles and possible redesignations
under the GSP program of articles
currently not eligible for GSP benefits
because they previously exceeded the
CNLs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact the GSP Subcommittee of the
Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of
the United States Trade Representative,
1724 F Street, NW., Room F–220,
Washington, DC 20508. The telephone
number is (202) 395–6971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Competitive Need Limitations
The GSP program provides for the
duty-free importation of designated
articles when imported from designated
beneficiary developing countries
(BDCs). The GSP program is authorized
by title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the
‘‘1974 Act’’), and is implemented in
accordance with Executive Order 11888
of November 24, 1975, as modified by
subsequent Executive Orders and
Presidential Proclamations.
Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act
sets out the two CNLs. When the
President determines that a BDC
exported to the United States during a
calendar year either (1) a quantity of a
GSP-eligible article having a value in
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2008 / Notices
excess of the applicable amount for that
year ($130 million for 2007), or (2) a
quantity of a GSP-eligible article having
a value equal to or greater than 50
percent of the value of total U.S. imports
of the article from all countries (the ‘‘50
percent CNL’’), the President must
terminate GSP duty-free treatment for
that article from that BDC by no later
than July 1 of the next calendar year.
De minimis waivers. Under section
503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the
President may waive the 50 percent
CNL with respect to an eligible article
imported from a BDC if the value of
total imports of that article from all
countries during the calendar year did
not exceed the applicable de minimis
amount for that year ($18.5 million for
2007).
Redesignations. Under section
503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if imports
of an eligible article from a BDC ceased
to receive duty-free treatment due to
exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the
President may, subject to the
considerations in sections 501 and 502
of the 1974 Act, redesignate such an
article for duty-free treatment if imports
in the most recently completed calendar
year did not exceed the CNLs.
CNL waiver revocation. Under Section
503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a CNL waiver
remains in effect until the President
determines that it is no longer
warranted due to changed
circumstances. Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii)
of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public
Law 109–432, also provides that, ‘‘[n]ot
later than July 1 of each year, the
President should revoke any waiver that
has then been in effect with respect to
an article for 5 years or more if the
beneficiary developing country has
exported to the United States (directly
or indirectly) during the preceding
calendar year a quantity of the article—
(I) having an appraised value in excess
of 1.5 times the applicable amount set
forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that
calendar year [$195 million in 2007]; or
(II) exceeding 75 percent of the
appraised value of the total imports of
that article into the United States during
that calendar year.’’
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
II. Implementation of Competitive Need
Limitations, Waivers, and
Redesignations
Exclusions from GSP duty-free
treatment where CNLs have been
exceeded will be effective July 1, 2008,
unless granted a waiver by the
President. Any CNL-based exclusions,
CNL waiver revocations, and decisions
with respect to de minimis waivers and
redesignations will be based on full
2007 calendar year import data.
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III. 2007 Import Statistics
In order to provide notice of articles
that have exceeded the CNLs for 2007,
and to afford an opportunity for
comment regarding potential de
minimis waivers, redesignations, and
the potential revocation of waivers that
are subject to the new CNL waiver
thresholds provided by section
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as
amended by Public Law 109–432,
import data for 2007 are available at:
https://www.ustr.gov/
Trade_Development/
Preference_Programs/GSP/
GSP_2007_Annual_Review/
Section_Index.html), titled ‘‘2007 GSP
Review, Full-Year 2007 Import Statistics
Relating to Competitive Need
Limitations (CNLs).’’ Full 2007 calendar
year data for individual tariff
subheadings may be viewed on the Web
site of the U.S. International Trade
Commission at https://
dataweb.usitc.gov/.
The lists available on the USTR Web
site contain, for each article, the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) subheading and
BDC country of origin, the value of
imports of the article for the 2007
calendar year, and the percentage of
total imports of that article from all
countries. The annotations on the lists
indicate, among other things, the status
of GSP eligibility.
The computer-generated lists
published on the USTR Web site are for
informational purposes only. They may
not include all articles to which the GSP
CNLs may apply. All determinations
and decisions regarding the CNLs of the
GSP program will be based on full 2007
calendar year import data with respect
to each GSP-eligible article. Each
interested party is advised to conduct its
own review of 2007 import data with
respect to the possible application of the
GSP CNL provisions.
List I on the USTR Web site shows: (a)
Articles from BDCs that became
ineligible for GSP treatment on or before
July 1, 2007; and (b) GSP-eligible
articles from BDCs that exceeded a CNL
by having been exported in excess of
$130 million, or by an amount greater
than 50 percent of the total U.S. import
value in 2007. Petitions to grant CNL
waivers for those articles that received
GSP benefits during 2007 but stand to
lose GSP duty-free treatment on July 1,
2008, must have been previously
submitted in the 2007 GSP Annual
Review.
List II identifies GSP-eligible articles
from BDCs that are above the 50 percent
CNL, but that are eligible for a de
minimis waiver of the 50 percent CNL.
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10827
Articles eligible for de minimis waivers
are automatically considered in the GSP
annual review process, without
petitions, and public comments are
invited.
List III shows GSP-eligible articles
from certain BDCs that are currently not
receiving GSP duty-free treatment, but
that may be considered for GSP
redesignation based on 2007 trade data
and consideration of certain statutory
factors, as set forth above.
Recommendations to the President on
redesignations are normally made as
part of the GSP annual review process,
and public comments are invited.
List IV shows articles subject to the
new CNL waiver thresholds of section
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as
amended by Public Law 109–432.
Recommendations to the President on
revocation of these waivers will be
made as part of the 2007 GSP annual
review process, and public comments
are invited.
IV. Public Comments
Requirements for Submissions
All submissions must conform to the
GSP regulations set forth at 15 CFR part
2007, except as modified below.
Furthermore, each party providing
comments should indicate on the first
page of the submission its name, the
relevant 8-digit HTSUS subheading(s),
the BDC of interest, and the type of
action (e.g., new statutory criteria, de
minimis waiver or redesignation) in
which the party is interested.
Comments must be submitted, in
English, to the Chairman of the GSP
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff
Committee (TPSC) as soon as possible,
but no later than 5 p.m., Friday, March
21, 2008, for comments on the potential
revocation of CNL waivers that meet the
new statutory thresholds and no later
than 5 p.m., March 28, 2008, for
comments regarding de minimis waivers
or redesignations.
To facilitate prompt consideration of
submissions, USTR will only accept
electronic e-mail submissions in
response to this notice. Hand-delivered
submissions either by mail or other
delivery options will not be accepted.
Submissions should be single-copy
transmissions in English with the total
submission not to exceed 20 singlespaced standard letter-size pages,
including attachments, and three
megabytes as a digital file attached to an
e-mail transmission. The e-mail
transmission must use either one of the
two following subject lines, based on
the subject of the comment being
submitted: ‘‘Comments on 2007 GSP
Redesignation and De minimis Waiver
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2008 / Notices
Review,’’ or ‘‘Comments on 2007 CNL
Waiver Threshold Review,’’ followed by
the BDC country of origin and HTSUS
subheading number as set out in the
appropriate list. Documents must be
submitted as either MSWord (‘‘.doc’’),
Word Perfect (‘‘.wpd’’), Adobe (‘‘.pdf’’)
or text (‘‘.txt’’) files. Documents
submitted as electronic image files or
containing imbedded images (for
example, ‘‘.jpg’’, ‘‘.tif’’, ‘‘.bmp’’, or ‘‘.gif’’
files) will not be accepted. Spreadsheets
submitted as supporting documentation
are acceptable as Excel, pre-formatted
for printing on 81⁄2 × 11 inch paper. To
the extent possible, any data
attachments to the submission should
be included in the same file as the
submission itself, and not as separate
files.
If the submission contains business
confidential information, pursuant to 15
CFR 2003.6, a non-confidential version
of the submission must also be
submitted that indicates where
confidential information was redacted
by inserting asterisks where material
was deleted. In addition, the
confidential version must be clearly
marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’
at the top and bottom of each page of the
document. The non-confidential version
must be clearly marked ‘‘PUBLIC’’ or
‘‘NON-CONFIDENTIAL’’ at the top and
bottom of each page. Documents that are
submitted without any marking may not
be accepted or will be considered public
documents.
For any document containing
business confidential information
submitted as an electronic attached file
to an e-mail transmission, the file name
of the business confidential version
should begin with the characters ‘‘BC-’’,
and the file name of the public version
should begin with the character ‘‘P-’’.
The ‘‘BC-’’ or ‘‘P-’’ should be followed
by the name of the party (government,
company, union, association, etc.)
which is submitting the comments.
E-mail submissions should not
include separate cover letters or
messages in the message area of the email; information that might appear in
any cover letter should be included
directly in the attached file containing
the submission itself, including the
sender’s name, organization name,
address, telephone number and e-mail
address. The e-mail address for the 2007
CNL Waiver Threshold Review is
FR0441@USTR.EOP.GOV. The e-mail
address for submissions to the 2007 GSP
Redesignation and De minimis Waiver
Review is FR0618@USTR.EOP.GOV.
(Note: the digit before the numbers 4
and 6 in the above e-mail addresses is
the number zero, not a letter.)
Documents not submitted in accordance
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18:23 Feb 27, 2008
Jkt 214001
with these instructions may not be
considered in this review. If unable to
provide submissions by e-mail, please
contact the GSP Subcommittee to
arrange for an alternative method of
transmission.
Public versions of all documents
relating to this review will be available
for public review approximately two
weeks after the due date by appointment
in the USTR Public Reading Room, 1724
F Street, NW., Washington, DC.
Availability of documents may be
ascertained, and appointments may be
made from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by
calling 202–395–6186.
Marideth J. Sandler,
Executive Director, Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) Program, and Chair, GSP
Subcommittee, Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative.
[FR Doc. E8–3805 Filed 2–27–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W8–P
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
For further information and to
ascertain what, if any, matters have been
added, deleted or postponed, please
contact:
The Office of the Secretary at (202)
551–5400.
Dated: February 25, 2008.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–3852 Filed 2–27–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
28166; 812–13444]
NETS Trust, et al.; Notice of
Application
February 25, 2008.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of an application for an
order under section 6(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections
2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), 22(e), and 24(d)
of the Act and rule 22c–1 under the Act,
under section 12(d)(1)(J) for an
exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and
(B) of the Act, and under sections 6(c)
and 17(b) of the Act for an exemption
from sections 17(a)(1) and (a)(2) of the
Act.
AGENCY:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
the provisions of the Government in the
Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
the Securities and Exchange
Commission will hold the following
meeting during the week of March 3,
2008:
A Closed Meeting will be held on
Monday, March 3, 2008, at 2 p.m.
Commissioners, Counsel to the
Commissioners, the Secretary to the
Commission, and recording secretaries
will attend the Closed Meeting. Certain
staff members who have an interest in
the matters may also be present.
The General Counsel of the
Commission, or his designee, has
certified that, in his opinion, one or
more of the exemptions set forth in 5
U.S.C. 552b(c)(5), (7), (9)(B), and (10)
and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(5), (7), 9(ii) and
(10), permit consideration of the
scheduled matters at the Closed
Meeting.
Commissioner Casey, as duty officer,
voted to consider the items listed for the
closed meeting in closed session.
The subject matter of the Closed
Meeting scheduled for Monday, March
3, 2008, will be:
Formal order of investigation;
Institution and settlement of injunctive
actions;
Resolution of a litigation claim;
Institution of administrative proceedings of
an enforcement nature; and a matter related
to an enforcement proceeding.
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Applicants
request an order that would permit (a)
certain open-end management
investment companies and their series,
to issue shares (‘‘NETS’’) that can be
redeemed only in large aggregations
(‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market
transactions in NETS to occur at
negotiated prices; (c) dealers to sell
NETS to purchasers in the secondary
market unaccompanied by a prospectus
when prospectus delivery is not
required by the Securities Act of 1933
(‘‘Securities Act’’); (d) certain series to
pay redemption proceeds, under certain
circumstances, more than seven days
after the tender of NETS for redemption;
(e) certain affiliated persons of the series
to deposit securities into, and receive
securities from, the series in connection
with the purchase and redemption of
Creation Units; and (f) certain registered
management investment companies and
unit investment trusts outside of the
same group of investment companies as
the series to acquire NETS.
APPLICANTS: NETS Trust (‘‘Trust’’),
Northern Trust Investments, N.A.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10826-10828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3805]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Import Statistics
Relating to Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs); Invitation for Public
Comment on CNL Waivers Subject to Potential Revocation Based on New
Statutory Thresholds, Possible De Minimis Waivers, and Product
Redesignations
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public of the availability of
full 2007 calendar year import statistics relating to competitive need
limitations (CNLs) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
program. Public comments are invited and must be submitted by 5 p.m.,
Friday, March 21, 2008, to FR0441@USTR.EOP.GOV regarding the potential
revocation of CNL waivers that meet the new statutory thresholds set
forth by section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2463(d)(4)(B)(ii)), as amended by Public Law 109-432. Additionally,
public comments are invited and must be submitted by 5 p.m., Friday,
March 28, 2008, to FR0618@USTR.EOP.GOV regarding possible de minimis
CNL waivers with respect to particular articles and possible
redesignations under the GSP program of articles currently not eligible
for GSP benefits because they previously exceeded the CNLs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the GSP Subcommittee of the
Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade
Representative, 1724 F Street, NW., Room F-220, Washington, DC 20508.
The telephone number is (202) 395-6971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Competitive Need Limitations
The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of
designated articles when imported from designated beneficiary
developing countries (BDCs). The GSP program is authorized by title V
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the
``1974 Act''), and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order
11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders
and Presidential Proclamations.
Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act sets out the two CNLs. When
the President determines that a BDC exported to the United States
during a calendar year either (1) a quantity of a GSP-eligible article
having a value in
[[Page 10827]]
excess of the applicable amount for that year ($130 million for 2007),
or (2) a quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a value equal to or
greater than 50 percent of the value of total U.S. imports of the
article from all countries (the ``50 percent CNL''), the President must
terminate GSP duty-free treatment for that article from that BDC by no
later than July 1 of the next calendar year.
De minimis waivers. Under section 503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the
President may waive the 50 percent CNL with respect to an eligible
article imported from a BDC if the value of total imports of that
article from all countries during the calendar year did not exceed the
applicable de minimis amount for that year ($18.5 million for 2007).
Redesignations. Under section 503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if
imports of an eligible article from a BDC ceased to receive duty-free
treatment due to exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the President may,
subject to the considerations in sections 501 and 502 of the 1974 Act,
redesignate such an article for duty-free treatment if imports in the
most recently completed calendar year did not exceed the CNLs.
CNL waiver revocation. Under Section 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a
CNL waiver remains in effect until the President determines that it is
no longer warranted due to changed circumstances. Section
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-432,
also provides that, ``[n]ot later than July 1 of each year, the
President should revoke any waiver that has then been in effect with
respect to an article for 5 years or more if the beneficiary developing
country has exported to the United States (directly or indirectly)
during the preceding calendar year a quantity of the article-- (I)
having an appraised value in excess of 1.5 times the applicable amount
set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that calendar year [$195
million in 2007]; or (II) exceeding 75 percent of the appraised value
of the total imports of that article into the United States during that
calendar year.''
II. Implementation of Competitive Need Limitations, Waivers, and
Redesignations
Exclusions from GSP duty-free treatment where CNLs have been
exceeded will be effective July 1, 2008, unless granted a waiver by the
President. Any CNL-based exclusions, CNL waiver revocations, and
decisions with respect to de minimis waivers and redesignations will be
based on full 2007 calendar year import data.
III. 2007 Import Statistics
In order to provide notice of articles that have exceeded the CNLs
for 2007, and to afford an opportunity for comment regarding potential
de minimis waivers, redesignations, and the potential revocation of
waivers that are subject to the new CNL waiver thresholds provided by
section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-
432, import data for 2007 are available at: https://www.ustr.gov/Trade_
Development/Preference_Programs/GSP/GSP_2007_Annual_Review/
Section_Index.html), titled ``2007 GSP Review, Full-Year 2007 Import
Statistics Relating to Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs).'' Full 2007
calendar year data for individual tariff subheadings may be viewed on
the Web site of the U.S. International Trade Commission at https://
dataweb.usitc.gov/.
The lists available on the USTR Web site contain, for each article,
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading
and BDC country of origin, the value of imports of the article for the
2007 calendar year, and the percentage of total imports of that article
from all countries. The annotations on the lists indicate, among other
things, the status of GSP eligibility.
The computer-generated lists published on the USTR Web site are for
informational purposes only. They may not include all articles to which
the GSP CNLs may apply. All determinations and decisions regarding the
CNLs of the GSP program will be based on full 2007 calendar year import
data with respect to each GSP-eligible article. Each interested party
is advised to conduct its own review of 2007 import data with respect
to the possible application of the GSP CNL provisions.
List I on the USTR Web site shows: (a) Articles from BDCs that
became ineligible for GSP treatment on or before July 1, 2007; and (b)
GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that exceeded a CNL by having been
exported in excess of $130 million, or by an amount greater than 50
percent of the total U.S. import value in 2007. Petitions to grant CNL
waivers for those articles that received GSP benefits during 2007 but
stand to lose GSP duty-free treatment on July 1, 2008, must have been
previously submitted in the 2007 GSP Annual Review.
List II identifies GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that are above
the 50 percent CNL, but that are eligible for a de minimis waiver of
the 50 percent CNL. Articles eligible for de minimis waivers are
automatically considered in the GSP annual review process, without
petitions, and public comments are invited.
List III shows GSP-eligible articles from certain BDCs that are
currently not receiving GSP duty-free treatment, but that may be
considered for GSP redesignation based on 2007 trade data and
consideration of certain statutory factors, as set forth above.
Recommendations to the President on redesignations are normally made as
part of the GSP annual review process, and public comments are invited.
List IV shows articles subject to the new CNL waiver thresholds of
section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-
432. Recommendations to the President on revocation of these waivers
will be made as part of the 2007 GSP annual review process, and public
comments are invited.
IV. Public Comments
Requirements for Submissions
All submissions must conform to the GSP regulations set forth at 15
CFR part 2007, except as modified below. Furthermore, each party
providing comments should indicate on the first page of the submission
its name, the relevant 8-digit HTSUS subheading(s), the BDC of
interest, and the type of action (e.g., new statutory criteria, de
minimis waiver or redesignation) in which the party is interested.
Comments must be submitted, in English, to the Chairman of the GSP
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) as soon as
possible, but no later than 5 p.m., Friday, March 21, 2008, for
comments on the potential revocation of CNL waivers that meet the new
statutory thresholds and no later than 5 p.m., March 28, 2008, for
comments regarding de minimis waivers or redesignations.
To facilitate prompt consideration of submissions, USTR will only
accept electronic e-mail submissions in response to this notice. Hand-
delivered submissions either by mail or other delivery options will not
be accepted. Submissions should be single-copy transmissions in English
with the total submission not to exceed 20 single-spaced standard
letter-size pages, including attachments, and three megabytes as a
digital file attached to an e-mail transmission. The e-mail
transmission must use either one of the two following subject lines,
based on the subject of the comment being submitted: ``Comments on 2007
GSP Redesignation and De minimis Waiver
[[Page 10828]]
Review,'' or ``Comments on 2007 CNL Waiver Threshold Review,'' followed
by the BDC country of origin and HTSUS subheading number as set out in
the appropriate list. Documents must be submitted as either MSWord
(``.doc''), Word Perfect (``.wpd''), Adobe (``.pdf'') or text
(``.txt'') files. Documents submitted as electronic image files or
containing imbedded images (for example, ``.jpg'', ``.tif'', ``.bmp'',
or ``.gif'' files) will not be accepted. Spreadsheets submitted as
supporting documentation are acceptable as Excel, pre-formatted for
printing on 8\1/2\ x 11 inch paper. To the extent possible, any data
attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as
the submission itself, and not as separate files.
If the submission contains business confidential information,
pursuant to 15 CFR 2003.6, a non-confidential version of the submission
must also be submitted that indicates where confidential information
was redacted by inserting asterisks where material was deleted. In
addition, the confidential version must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. The
non-confidential version must be clearly marked ``PUBLIC'' or ``NON-
CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and bottom of each page. Documents that are
submitted without any marking may not be accepted or will be considered
public documents.
For any document containing business confidential information
submitted as an electronic attached file to an e-mail transmission, the
file name of the business confidential version should begin with the
characters ``BC-'', and the file name of the public version should
begin with the character ``P-''. The ``BC-'' or ``P-'' should be
followed by the name of the party (government, company, union,
association, etc.) which is submitting the comments.
E-mail submissions should not include separate cover letters or
messages in the message area of the e-mail; information that might
appear in any cover letter should be included directly in the attached
file containing the submission itself, including the sender's name,
organization name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. The e-
mail address for the 2007 CNL Waiver Threshold Review is
FR0441@USTR.EOP.GOV. The e-mail address for submissions to the 2007 GSP
Redesignation and De minimis Waiver Review is FR0618@USTR.EOP.GOV.
(Note: the digit before the numbers 4 and 6 in the above e-mail
addresses is the number zero, not a letter.) Documents not submitted in
accordance with these instructions may not be considered in this
review. If unable to provide submissions by e-mail, please contact the
GSP Subcommittee to arrange for an alternative method of transmission.
Public versions of all documents relating to this review will be
available for public review approximately two weeks after the due date
by appointment in the USTR Public Reading Room, 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC. Availability of documents may be ascertained, and
appointments may be made from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, by calling 202-395-6186.
Marideth J. Sandler,
Executive Director, Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program,
and Chair, GSP Subcommittee, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. E8-3805 Filed 2-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W8-P
