WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding China-Certain Measures Affecting Electronic Payment Services, 12401-12403 [2011-5121]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2011 / Notices
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) Must provide a non-confidential
summary of the information or advice.
Any comment containing confidential
information must be submitted by fax. A
non-confidential summary of the
confidential information must be
submitted to https://
www.regulations.gov. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in
the docket and open to public
inspection.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the
URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will
maintain a docket on this dispute
settlement proceeding accessible to the
public. The public file will include nonconfidential comments received by
USTR from the public with respect to
the dispute. If a dispute settlement
panel is convened or in the event of an
appeal from such a panel, the U.S.
submissions, any non-confidential
submissions, or non-confidential
summaries of submissions, received
from other participants in the dispute,
will be made available to the public on
USTR’s Web site at https://www.ustr.gov,
and the report of the panel, and, if
applicable, the report of the Appellate
Body, will be available on the Web site
of the World Trade Organization,
https://www.wto.org. Comments open to
public inspection may be viewed on the
https://www.regulations.gov Web site.
Bradford Ward,
Acting Assistant United States Trade
Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011–5082 Filed 3–4–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W1–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
[Dispute No. WTO/DS413]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding
Regarding China—Certain Measures
Affecting Electronic Payment Services
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (‘‘USTR’’) is
providing notice that on February 11,
SUMMARY:
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17:54 Mar 04, 2011
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2011, the United States requested
establishment of a dispute settlement
panel under the Marrakesh Agreement
Establishing the World Trade
Organization (‘‘WTO Agreement’’) with
the People’s Republic of China (‘‘China’’)
concerning certain restrictions and
requirements maintained by China
affecting electronic payment services for
payment card transactions and the
suppliers of those services. That request
may be found at https://www.wto.org
contained in a document designated as
WT/DS413/2. 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 dispute settlement proceedings,
comments should be submitted on or
before May 2, 2011, to be assured of
timely consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Public comments should be
submitted electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov, docket number
USTR–2010–026. If you are unable to
provide submissions to https://
www.regulations.gov, please contact
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of
transmission. If (as explained below) the
comment contains confidential
information, then the comment should
be submitted by fax only to Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395–3640.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank J. Schweitzer, Associate General
Counsel, Office of the United States
Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395–
3150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
127(b)(1) 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 establishment of a
WTO dispute settlement panel.
Consistent with this obligation, USTR is
providing notice that it has requested a
panel pursuant to the WTO
Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(‘‘DSU’’). Once it is established, the
panel will hold its meetings in Geneva,
Switzerland, and would be expected to
issue a report on its findings and
recommendations within nine months
of its establishment.
Major Issues Raised by the United
States
On September 15, 2010, the United
States requested consultations with
China concerning issues relating to
certain restrictions and requirements
maintained by China affecting electronic
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12401
payment services for payment card
transactions and the suppliers of those
services. Electronic payment services
involve the services through which
transactions involving credit card, debit
card, charge card, check card,
automated teller machine (‘‘ATM’’) card,
prepaid card, or other similar card or
money transmission product, are
processed and through which transfers
of funds between institutions
participating in the transactions are
managed and facilitated. In the financial
services sector, as set out in China’s
Schedule of Specific Commitments on
Services annexed to the Protocol on the
Accession of the People’s Republic of
China, China undertook both market
access and national treatment
commitments with respect to these
services.
Despite its GATS commitments,
China imposes market access
restrictions and requirements on service
suppliers of other Members seeking to
supply electronic payment services in
China. China UnionPay (‘‘CUP’’), a
Chinese entity, is the only entity that
China permits to supply electronic
payment services for payment card
transactions denominated and paid in
renminbi (‘‘RMB’’) in China. China also
requires the handling by CUP of all
RMB transactions in Macao or Hong
Kong using payment cards issued in
Mainland China, as well as any RMB
transactions in Mainland China using
RMB payment cards issued in Hong
Kong, China or Macao, China.
In addition, China requires all
payment card processing devices at
merchant locations, all ATMs, and all
point-of-sale (‘‘POS’’) terminals in China
to be compatible with CUP’s system and
capable of accepting CUP payment
cards. China also requires that all
acquiring institutions post the CUP logo
and be capable of accepting all payment
cards bearing the CUP logo. China
further requires that all payment cards,
including ‘‘dual currency’’ cards, issued
in China capable of being used for
transactions denominated and paid in
RMB bear the CUP logo. These measures
do not impose similar requirements
regarding non-CUP payment cards or to
transactions using non-CUP payment
cards. China also requires that all interbank transactions involving payment
cards be handled through CUP. China
prohibits the use of non-CUP payment
cards for cross-region or inter-bank
transactions.
The United States considers that these
measures are inconsistent with China’s
obligations under GATS Article XVI:1 to
accord services and services suppliers of
any other Member treatment no less
favorable than that provided for in
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
12402
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2011 / Notices
China’s Schedule and that China is
maintaining or adopting measures set
out in Article XVI:2. The United States
also considers that these measures are
inconsistent with China’s obligations
under GATS Article XVII to accord to
services and service suppliers of any
other Member treatment no less
favorable than that it accords to its own
like services and service suppliers.
In its request for the establishment of
a panel, the United States identified the
following instruments through which
the United States understands that
China maintains these measures:
• Measures for the Administration of
Bank Card Business by the People’s
Bank of China (Yinfa [1999] 17), issued
on 27 January 1999;
• Circular of the People’s Bank of
China on Promulgation of Opinions on
Implementation of Joint Work in Bank
Card Interoperability in 2001 (Yinfa
[2001] 37) issued on 19 February 2001;
• Circular on Uniform Use of CUP
Logo and its Holographic Label for Anticounterfeiting by the People’s Bank of
China (Yinfa, [2001] 57), issued on 13
March 2001;
• Notice of Circulating the Bank Card
Connection Business Standard by the
People’s Bank of China (Yinfa [2001]
76), issued 29 March 2001, including
but not limited to the Appendix,
Business Practices for the Interoperable
Service of Bank Cards
• Opinions on Bank Card
Interoperability Related Work in 2002
by the People’s Bank of China (Yinfa
[2002] 94), issued on 5 April 2002;
• Circular regarding Issues
concerning Bank Card Interoperability
Related Work by the People’s Bank of
China (Yinfa [2002] 272), issued on 29
August 2002;
• Circular on Further Improving Bank
Card Interoperability Related Work by
the People’s Bank of China (Yinfa [2003]
129), issued on 2 July 2003;
• Announcement of Clearing
Arrangements Provided by Banks in
relation to Individuals’ Deposits,
Exchanges, Bank Card and Remittance
in RMB in Hong Kong (PBOC
Announcement [2003] 16), issued on 19
November 2003;
• Circular on Regulating the
Administration of Foreign Currency
Bank Cards by the State Administration
of Foreign Exchange Circular (Huifa
[2004] 66), issued on 30 June 2004;
• Announcement of Clearing
Arrangements Provided by Banks in
relation to Individuals’ Deposits,
Exchanges, Bank Cards and Remittance
in RMB in Macao (PBOC
Announcement [2004] 8), issued on 3
August 2004;
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17:54 Mar 04, 2011
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• Notice of the People’s Bank of
China concerning Relevant Issues on
Accepting and Using Renminbi Bank
Cards in Border Areas (Yinfa [2004]
219), issued on 21 September 2004;
• Circular regarding Issues
concerning Individual RMB Business
Handled by Banks in Mainland China
and Banks in Hong Kong and Macao by
the People’s Bank of China (Yinfa [2004]
254), issued on 28 October 2004;
• Some Opinions of the People’s
Bank of China, the National Reform and
Development Commission, the Ministry
of Public Security, the Ministry of
Finance, the Ministry of Information
Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, the
Station Administration of Taxation,
China Banking Regulatory Commission
and the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange on Promoting the
Development of Bank Card Industry
Some Opinions of the People’s Bank of
China, the National Reform and
Development Commission, the Ministry
of Public Security, the Ministry of
Finance, the Ministry of Information
Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, the
Station Administration of Taxation,
China Banking Regulatory Commission
and the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange on Promoting the
Development of Bank Card Industry
(Yinfa [2005] 103), issued 24 April 2005;
• Guiding Opinions of the People’s
Bank of China on Regulating and
Promoting the Development of Bank
Card Acceptance Market (Yinfa [2005]
153), issued on 16 June 2005;
• Notice of the People’s Bank of
China on the Relevant Issues concerning
Strengthening the Administration of
Oversea Business Acceptance of Bank
Cards (Yinfa [2007] 273), issued on 6
August 2007;
• Notice of the China Banking
Regulatory Commission on the Issues
Concerning Wholly Foreign-funded and
Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Banks in
Conducting the Bank Card Business
(Yin Jian Fa [2007] 49), issued 6 June
2007;
• Notice of the People’s Bank of
China, the China Banking Regulatory
Commission, the Ministry of Public
Security and the State Administration
for Industry and Commerce on
Strengthening the Safety Management of
Bank Cards and Preventing and
Combating Bank Card Crimes (Yinfa
[2009] 142), issued 27 April 2009;
• The Opinions of the Standing Office
of the People’s Bank of China on the
Circular on Strengthening the Safety
Management of Bankcards and
Preventing and Fighting Crimes in Bank
Cards by the People’s Bank of China, the
China Banking Regulatory Commission,
the Ministry of Public Security and the
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State Administration for Industry and
Commerce (Yinfa [2009] 149), issued 1
August 2009;
• Notice of the State Administration
of Foreign Exchange on the Management
of Foreign Currency Bank Cards [2010]
53, issued 11 October 2010; and
• The ‘‘business specifications’’ and
‘‘technical standards’’ that are identified
in the instruments above, including in
Document No. 17, Document No. 57,
Document No. 129, and Document No.
49;
• As well as any amendments, or any
related implementing measures, as of
the date of the panel request.
Public Comment: Requirements for
Submissions
Interested persons are invited to
submit written comments concerning
the issues raised in this dispute. Persons
may submit public comments
electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov, docket number
USTR–2010–0026. If you are unable to
provide submissions by https://
www.regulations.gov, please contact
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of
transmission.
To submit comments via
www.regulations.gov, enter docket
number USTR–2010–0026 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 by
selecting ‘‘Notice’’ under ‘‘Document
Type’’ on the left side of the searchresults page, and click on the link
entitled ‘‘Submit a Comment.’’ (For
further information on using the
https://www.regulations.gov Web site,
please consult the resources provided
on the Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to
Use This Site’’ on the left side of the
home page.)
The www.regulations.gov site
provides the option of providing
comments by filling in a ‘‘Type
Comment and Upload File’’ field, or by
attaching a document. It is expected that
most comments will be provided in an
attached document. If a document is
attached, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See
attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment and
Upload File’’ field.
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
submitter. Confidential business
information must be clearly designated
as such and the submission must be
marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ at
E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM
07MRN1
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2011 / Notices
the top and bottom of the cover page
and each succeeding page. Any
comment containing business
confidential information must be
submitted by fax to Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395–3640. A non-confidential
summary of the confidential
information must be submitted to https://
www.regulations.gov. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in
the docket and open to public
inspection.
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) Must provide a non-confidential
summary of the information or advice.
Any comment containing confidential
information must be submitted by fax to
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–3640. A
non-confidential summary of the
confidential information must be
submitted to https://
www.regulations.gov. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in
the docket and open to public
inspection.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the
URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will
maintain a docket on this dispute
settlement proceeding accessible to the
public. The public file will include nonconfidential comments received by
USTR from the public with respect to
the dispute. If a dispute settlement
panel is convened or in the event of an
appeal from such a panel, the U.S.
submissions, any non-confidential
submissions, or non-confidential
summaries of submissions, received
from other participants in the dispute,
will be made available to the public on
USTR’s Web site at www.ustr.gov, and
the report of the panel, and, if
applicable, the report of the Appellate
Body, will be available on the Web site
of the World Trade Organization,
https://www.wto.org. Comments open to
public inspection may be viewed on the
https://www.regulations.gov Web site.
Bradford Ward,
Acting Assistant United States Trade
Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011–5121 Filed 3–4–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W1–P
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space
Transportation; Notice of Availability
of the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) for Actions Related to the
Renewal of a Launch Operator License
for Delta II Expendable Launch
Vehicles at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Florida
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the
FONSI.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347 (as
amended), Council on Environmental
Quality NEPA implementing regulations
(40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]
Parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order
1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is
announcing the availability of a FONSI,
based on the analysis and findings of
the May 1988 United States Air Force
(USAF) Medium Launch Vehicle
Environmental Assessment (EA), Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),
Florida. The 1988 EA evaluates the
potential environmental impacts of
renovating Launch Complex (LC)–17
and other support facilities at CCAFS to
support 12 annual launches of the Delta
II vehicle. USAF issued a FONSI, which
concluded that the environmental
impacts associated with their Proposed
Action would not significantly impact
the quality of the human environment,
and therefore the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
was not required. Under the FAA’s
Proposed Action as stated in the FONSI,
the FAA would renew a Launch
Operator License to Orbital Sciences
Corporation for the continued operation
of Delta II expendable launch vehicles at
CCAFS. A Launch Operator License
would authorize launches of Delta II
vehicles over the 5-year term of the
license.
In accordance with the requirements
of FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1,
paragraph 410, the FAA has
independently evaluated the
information contained in the 1988 EA
and has verified the continued validity
of the analysis contained in the EA. The
FAA has determined that the 1988 EA
sufficiently addresses the concerns of
the FAA and complies with FAA
requirements for implementing NEPA as
stated in FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1.
The FAA has determined that there is
no new information or analysis that
SUMMARY:
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12403
would require preparation of a new or
supplemental EA or EIS according to the
CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)).
Therefore, the FAA issues the FONSI
concurring with the analysis of impacts
and findings in the 1988 EA and
formally adopts the EA in compliance
with the requirements of 40 CFR 1506.3
to support renewing a Launch Operator
License to Boeing for the continued
operation of Delta II expendable launch
vehicles at CCAFS. The 1988 EA is
incorporated by reference and is
summarized as necessary in the FONSI.
The FAA has posted the FONSI on the
Internet at https://www.faa.gov/about/
office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental
Program Lead, Office of Commercial
Space Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 325, Washington,
DC 20591, telephone (202) 267–5924; Email daniel.czelusniak@faa.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC on March 1,
2011.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development
Division.
[FR Doc. 2011–5113 Filed 3–4–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space
Transportation; Notice of Availability
of the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) for Actions Related to the
Renewal of a Launch Operator License
for Pegasus Expendable Launch
Vehicles at Wallops Flight Facility,
Virginia
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
FONSI.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347 (as
amended), Council on Environmental
Quality NEPA implementing regulations
(40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]
parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order
1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is
announcing the availability of a FONSI,
based on the analysis and findings of
the January 2005 National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) Final
Site-Wide Environmental Assessment
(EA) for Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia
(hereafter referred to as the 2005 EA).
The 2005 EA evaluates the potential
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12401-12403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5121]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Dispute No. WTO/DS413]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding China--Certain
Measures Affecting Electronic Payment Services
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 February 11, 2011, the United
States requested establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO
Agreement'') with the People's Republic of China (``China'') concerning
certain restrictions and requirements maintained by China affecting
electronic payment services for payment card transactions and the
suppliers of those services. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS413/2. 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 dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be
submitted on or before May 2, 2011, to be assured of timely
consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to https://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2010-026. If you are unable to
provide submissions to https://www.regulations.gov, please contact Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to arrange for an alternative method of
transmission. If (as explained below) the comment contains confidential
information, then the comment should be submitted by fax only to Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395-3640.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank J. Schweitzer, Associate General
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-3150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b)(1) 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 establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel.
Consistent with this obligation, USTR is providing notice that it has
requested a panel pursuant to the WTO Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (``DSU''). Once it is
established, the panel will hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland,
and would be expected to issue a report on its findings and
recommendations within nine months of its establishment.
Major Issues Raised by the United States
On September 15, 2010, the United States requested consultations
with China concerning issues relating to certain restrictions and
requirements maintained by China affecting electronic payment services
for payment card transactions and the suppliers of those services.
Electronic payment services involve the services through which
transactions involving credit card, debit card, charge card, check
card, automated teller machine (``ATM'') card, prepaid card, or other
similar card or money transmission product, are processed and through
which transfers of funds between institutions participating in the
transactions are managed and facilitated. In the financial services
sector, as set out in China's Schedule of Specific Commitments on
Services annexed to the Protocol on the Accession of the People's
Republic of China, China undertook both market access and national
treatment commitments with respect to these services.
Despite its GATS commitments, China imposes market access
restrictions and requirements on service suppliers of other Members
seeking to supply electronic payment services in China. China UnionPay
(``CUP''), a Chinese entity, is the only entity that China permits to
supply electronic payment services for payment card transactions
denominated and paid in renminbi (``RMB'') in China. China also
requires the handling by CUP of all RMB transactions in Macao or Hong
Kong using payment cards issued in Mainland China, as well as any RMB
transactions in Mainland China using RMB payment cards issued in Hong
Kong, China or Macao, China.
In addition, China requires all payment card processing devices at
merchant locations, all ATMs, and all point-of-sale (``POS'') terminals
in China to be compatible with CUP's system and capable of accepting
CUP payment cards. China also requires that all acquiring institutions
post the CUP logo and be capable of accepting all payment cards bearing
the CUP logo. China further requires that all payment cards, including
``dual currency'' cards, issued in China capable of being used for
transactions denominated and paid in RMB bear the CUP logo. These
measures do not impose similar requirements regarding non-CUP payment
cards or to transactions using non-CUP payment cards. China also
requires that all inter-bank transactions involving payment cards be
handled through CUP. China prohibits the use of non-CUP payment cards
for cross-region or inter-bank transactions.
The United States considers that these measures are inconsistent
with China's obligations under GATS Article XVI:1 to accord services
and services suppliers of any other Member treatment no less favorable
than that provided for in
[[Page 12402]]
China's Schedule and that China is maintaining or adopting measures set
out in Article XVI:2. The United States also considers that these
measures are inconsistent with China's obligations under GATS Article
XVII to accord to services and service suppliers of any other Member
treatment no less favorable than that it accords to its own like
services and service suppliers.
In its request for the establishment of a panel, the United States
identified the following instruments through which the United States
understands that China maintains these measures:
Measures for the Administration of Bank Card Business by
the People's Bank of China (Yinfa [1999] 17), issued on 27 January
1999;
Circular of the People's Bank of China on Promulgation of
Opinions on Implementation of Joint Work in Bank Card Interoperability
in 2001 (Yinfa [2001] 37) issued on 19 February 2001;
Circular on Uniform Use of CUP Logo and its Holographic
Label for Anti-counterfeiting by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa,
[2001] 57), issued on 13 March 2001;
Notice of Circulating the Bank Card Connection Business
Standard by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa [2001] 76), issued 29
March 2001, including but not limited to the Appendix, Business
Practices for the Interoperable Service of Bank Cards
Opinions on Bank Card Interoperability Related Work in
2002 by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa [2002] 94), issued on 5 April
2002;
Circular regarding Issues concerning Bank Card
Interoperability Related Work by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa
[2002] 272), issued on 29 August 2002;
Circular on Further Improving Bank Card Interoperability
Related Work by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa [2003] 129), issued
on 2 July 2003;
Announcement of Clearing Arrangements Provided by Banks in
relation to Individuals' Deposits, Exchanges, Bank Card and Remittance
in RMB in Hong Kong (PBOC Announcement [2003] 16), issued on 19
November 2003;
Circular on Regulating the Administration of Foreign
Currency Bank Cards by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
Circular (Huifa [2004] 66), issued on 30 June 2004;
Announcement of Clearing Arrangements Provided by Banks in
relation to Individuals' Deposits, Exchanges, Bank Cards and Remittance
in RMB in Macao (PBOC Announcement [2004] 8), issued on 3 August 2004;
Notice of the People's Bank of China concerning Relevant
Issues on Accepting and Using Renminbi Bank Cards in Border Areas
(Yinfa [2004] 219), issued on 21 September 2004;
Circular regarding Issues concerning Individual RMB
Business Handled by Banks in Mainland China and Banks in Hong Kong and
Macao by the People's Bank of China (Yinfa [2004] 254), issued on 28
October 2004;
Some Opinions of the People's Bank of China, the National
Reform and Development Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the
Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Information Industry, the Ministry
of Commerce, the Station Administration of Taxation, China Banking
Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
on Promoting the Development of Bank Card Industry Some Opinions of the
People's Bank of China, the National Reform and Development Commission,
the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry
of Information Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, the Station
Administration of Taxation, China Banking Regulatory Commission and the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Promoting the Development
of Bank Card Industry (Yinfa [2005] 103), issued 24 April 2005;
Guiding Opinions of the People's Bank of China on
Regulating and Promoting the Development of Bank Card Acceptance Market
(Yinfa [2005] 153), issued on 16 June 2005;
Notice of the People's Bank of China on the Relevant
Issues concerning Strengthening the Administration of Oversea Business
Acceptance of Bank Cards (Yinfa [2007] 273), issued on 6 August 2007;
Notice of the China Banking Regulatory Commission on the
Issues Concerning Wholly Foreign-funded and Chinese-foreign Equity
Joint Banks in Conducting the Bank Card Business (Yin Jian Fa [2007]
49), issued 6 June 2007;
Notice of the People's Bank of China, the China Banking
Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Public Security and the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce on Strengthening the Safety
Management of Bank Cards and Preventing and Combating Bank Card Crimes
(Yinfa [2009] 142), issued 27 April 2009;
The Opinions of the Standing Office of the People's Bank
of China on the Circular on Strengthening the Safety Management of
Bankcards and Preventing and Fighting Crimes in Bank Cards by the
People's Bank of China, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the
Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Industry
and Commerce (Yinfa [2009] 149), issued 1 August 2009;
Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on
the Management of Foreign Currency Bank Cards [2010] 53, issued 11
October 2010; and
The ``business specifications'' and ``technical
standards'' that are identified in the instruments above, including in
Document No. 17, Document No. 57, Document No. 129, and Document No.
49;
As well as any amendments, or any related implementing
measures, as of the date of the panel request.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning the issues raised in this dispute. Persons may submit public
comments electronically to https://www.regulations.gov, docket number
USTR-2010-0026. If you are unable to provide submissions by https://www.regulations.gov, please contact Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of transmission.
To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number
USTR-2010-0026 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 by selecting ``Notice''
under ``Document Type'' on the left side of the search-results page,
and click on the link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further
information on using the https://www.regulations.gov Web site, please
consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to
Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
The www.regulations.gov site provides the option of providing
comments by filling in a ``Type Comment and Upload File'' field, or by
attaching a document. It is expected that most comments will be
provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment and Upload
File'' field.
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 submitter.
Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such
and the submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at
[[Page 12403]]
the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. Any
comment containing business confidential information must be submitted
by fax to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. A non-confidential summary
of the confidential information must be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov. The non-confidential summary will be placed in the
docket and open to public inspection.
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) Must provide a non-confidential summary of the information or
advice.
Any comment containing confidential information must be submitted
by fax to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. A non-confidential summary
of the confidential information must be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov. The non-confidential summary will be placed in the
docket and open to public inspection.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR
will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement proceeding accessible
to the public. 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 or in the event of an appeal from
such a panel, the U.S. submissions, any non-confidential submissions,
or non-confidential summaries of submissions, received from other
participants in the dispute, will be made available to the public on
USTR's Web site at www.ustr.gov, and the report of the panel, and, if
applicable, the report of the Appellate Body, will be available on the
Web site of the World Trade Organization, https://www.wto.org. Comments
open to public inspection may be viewed on the https://www.regulations.gov Web site.
Bradford Ward,
Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-5121 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W1-P