Request for Public Comments on Interim Review of Eligibility of Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, 50284-50285 [2011-20486]

Download as PDF 50284 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Powers, 3700 Robert Ball Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, (410) 965– 3558. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: Program Nos. 96.001 Social Security— Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security—Retirement Insurance; 96.004 Social Security—Survivors Insurance) Diane K. Braunstein, Associate Commissioner, Office of International Programs. [FR Doc. 2011–20489 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191–02–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Public Comments on Interim Review of Eligibility of Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The African Growth and Opportunity Act Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (the ‘‘Subcommittee’’) is requesting written public comments for the interim review of the eligibility of Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Subcommittee will consider these comments in developing recommendations on AGOA country eligibility for the President. Comments received related to the child labor criteria may also be considered by the Secretary of Labor for the preparation of the Department of Labor’s report on child labor as required under section 412(c) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. This notice identifies the eligibility criteria that must be considered under the AGOA. Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger are currently ineligible for AGOA benefits. DATES: Public comments are due at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) by noon, Monday, August 29, 2010. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made at https:// www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR–2011–0009. See ‘‘Requirements for Submission,’’ below. If you are unable to make a submission at https:// www.regulations.gov, please contact Laura Newport, Trade Policy Staff ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:37 Aug 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 Committee, at (202) 395–3475 to make other arrangements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions, please contact Laura Newport, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Room F516, Washington, DC 20508, at (202) 395–3475. All other questions should be directed to Constance Hamilton, Deputy Assistant, U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, at (202) 395– 9514. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AGOA (Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Public Law 106–200) (19 U.S.C. 3721 et seq.), as amended, authorizes the President to designate sub-Saharan African countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries eligible for duty-free treatment for certain additional products under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) (Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) (the ‘‘1974 Act’’)), as well as for the preferential treatment the AGOA provides for certain textile and apparel articles. The President may designate a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country eligible for both the additional GSP benefits and the textile and apparel benefits of the AGOA for countries meeting certain statutory requirements intended to prevent unlawful transshipment of such articles, if he determines that the country meets the eligibility criteria set forth in: (1) Section 104 of the AGOA; and (2) section 502 of the 1974 Act. Currently, 37 countries are designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Section 506A of the 1974 Act provides that the President shall monitor and review annually the progress of each sub-Saharan African country in meeting the foregoing eligibility criteria in order to determine whether each beneficiary sub-Saharan African country should continue to be eligible, and whether each sub-Saharan African country that is currently not a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, should be designated as such a country. Section 506A of the 1974 Act requires that, if the President determines that a beneficiary subSaharan African country is not making continual progress in meeting the eligibility requirements, he must terminate the designation of the country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country. The Subcommittee is seeking public comments in connection with an interim review of the eligibility of Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger for the AGOA’s benefits. The Subcommittee PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 will consider any such comments in developing recommendations on country eligibility for the President. Comments related to the child labor criteria may also be considered by the Secretary of Labor in making the findings required under section 504 of the 1974 Act. The eligibility criteria can be found at: 19 U.S.C. 2462 (Section 502 of the 1974 Act) and 19 U.S.C. 3703 (Section 104 of AGOA). Requirements for Submissions: Comments must be submitted in English. To ensure the most timely and expeditious receipt and consideration of petitions, USTR has arranged to accept on-line submissions via https:// www.regulations.gov. To submit petitions via this site, enter docket number USTR–2011–0009 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 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 ‘‘Help’’ at the top of the home page.) The https://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of making submissions by filling in a ‘‘Type comment & Upload file’’ field, or by attaching a document. USTR prefers comments to be submitted as attachments. When doing this, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type comment & Upload file’’ field. Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) are preferred. Persons wishing to file comments containing business confidential information must submit both a business confidential version and a public version. Persons submitting business confidential information should write ‘‘See attached BC comments’’ in the ‘‘Type comment & Upload file’’ field. Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ‘‘Business Confidential’’ on the top of that page. Persons submitting a business confidential comment must also submit a separate public version of that comment with the business confidential information deleted. Persons should write ‘‘See attached public version’’ in the ‘‘Type comment & Upload file’’ field of the public submission. Submissions should not attach separate cover letters; rather, information that might appear in the cover letter should be included in the comments you submit. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices to a submission in the same file as the submission itself and not as separate files. Public versions of all documents relating to this review will be available for review no later than two weeks after the due date at https:// www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR–2011–0009. Donald W. Eiss, Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee. [FR Doc. 2011–20486 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W1–P On August 1, 2011, the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) announced the sugar program provisions for fiscal year (FY) 2012. The Secretary announced an in-quota quantity of the TRQ for raw cane sugar for FY 2012 of 1,117,195 metric tons * raw value (MTRV), which is the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements. USTR is allocating this quantity (1,117,195 MTRV) to the following countries in the amounts specified below: OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Fiscal Year 2012 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice of country-by-country allocations of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quotas for imported raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugarcontaining products. DATES: Effective Date: September 1, 2011. SUMMARY: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Julie Scott, Office of Agricultural Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scott, Office of Agricultural Affairs, telephone: 202–395–9582 or facsimile: 202–395–4579. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), the United States maintains tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for imports of raw cane sugar and refined sugar. Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 17 of the HTS, the United States maintains a TRQ for imports of sugar-containing products. Section 404(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3601(d)(3)) authorizes the President to allocate the in-quota quantity of a TRQ for any agricultural product among supplying countries or customs areas. The President delegated this authority to the United States Trade Representative under Presidential Proclamation 6763 (60 FR 1007). mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:37 Aug 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 FY 2012 Raw cane sugar allocations (MTRV) Country Argentina ........................ Australia .......................... Barbados ........................ Belize .............................. Bolivia ............................. Brazil ............................... Colombia ......................... Congo ............................. Costa Rica ...................... Cote d’Ivoire ................... Dominican Republic ........ Ecuador .......................... El Salvador ..................... Fiji ................................... Gabon ............................. Guatemala ...................... Guyana ........................... Haiti ................................. Honduras ........................ India ................................ Jamaica .......................... Madagascar .................... Malawi ............................. Mauritius ......................... Mozambique ................... Nicaragua ....................... Panama .......................... Papua New Guinea ........ Paraguay ........................ Peru ................................ Philippines ...................... South Africa .................... St. Kitts & Nevis ............. Swaziland ....................... Thailand .......................... Trinidad & Tobago .......... Uruguay .......................... Zimbabwe ....................... 46,154 89,087 7,513 11,807 8,587 155,634 25,760 7,258 16,100 7,258 188,908 11,807 27,907 9,660 7,258 51,520 12,880 7,258 10,733 8,587 11,807 7,258 10,733 12,880 13,953 22,540 31,127 7,258 7,258 44,007 144,901 24,687 7,258 17,174 15,027 7,513 7,258 12,880 These allocations are based on the countries’ historical shipments to the United States and consultations with quota-holding countries. The allocations of the in-quota quantities of the raw cane sugar TRQ to countries that are net importers of sugar are conditioned on receipt of the appropriate verifications of origin, and certificates for quota eligibility must accompany imports from any country for which an allocation has been provided. On August 1, 2011, the Secretary also announced the establishment of the in- PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 50285 quota quantity of the FY 2012 refined sugar TRQ at 112,718 MTRV for which the sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, must have a polarimeter reading of 99.5 degrees or more. This amount includes the minimum level to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements (22,000 MTRV of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar) and an additional 90,718 MTRV for specialty sugars. Based on consultations with quota-holding countries, USTR is allocating a total of 12,050 MTRV of refined sugar to Canada and 8,294 MTRV of refined sugar to be administered on a first-come, firstserved basis. Imports of all specialty sugar will be administered on a first-come, firstserved basis in five tranches. The Secretary has announced that the total in-quota quantity of specialty sugar will be the 1,656 MTRV included in the WTO minimum plus an additional 90,718 MTRV. The first tranche of 1,656 MTRV will open October 12, 2011. All types of specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche of 33,565 MTRV will open on October 26, 2011. The third, fourth, and fifth tranches of 19,051 MTRV each will open on January 11, 2012, April 11, 2012 and July 11, 2012, respectively. The second, third, fourth and fifth tranches will be reserved for organic sugar and other specialty sugars not currently produced commercially in the United States or reasonably available from domestic sources. With respect to the in-quota quantity of 64,709 metric tons (MT) of the TRQ for imports of certain sugar-containing products maintained under Additional U.S. Note 8 to chapter 17 of the HTS, USTR is allocating 59,250 MT to Canada. The remainder, 5,459 MT, of the in-quota quantity is available for other countries on a first-come, firstserved basis. In response to increased tightness in the U.S. raw cane sugar market, USDA also announced that it will open its raw cane sugar TRQs on September 1, 2011, a month earlier than the usual entry date of October 1. This early entry date does not apply to TRQs for refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products. * Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons. Ronald Kirk, United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2011–20480 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W1–P E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50284-50285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20486]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Public Comments on Interim Review of Eligibility of 
Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger for Benefits Under the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The African Growth and Opportunity Act Implementation 
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (the ``Subcommittee'') 
is requesting written public comments for the interim review of the 
eligibility of Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger to receive the benefits 
of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Subcommittee will 
consider these comments in developing recommendations on AGOA country 
eligibility for the President. Comments received related to the child 
labor criteria may also be considered by the Secretary of Labor for the 
preparation of the Department of Labor's report on child labor as 
required under section 412(c) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. 
This notice identifies the eligibility criteria that must be considered 
under the AGOA. Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger are currently 
ineligible for AGOA benefits.

DATES: Public comments are due at the Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative (USTR) by noon, Monday, August 29, 2010.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made at https://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2011-0009. See ``Requirements 
for Submission,'' below. If you are unable to make a submission at 
https://www.regulations.gov, please contact Laura Newport, Trade Policy 
Staff Committee, at (202) 395-3475 to make other arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions, please 
contact Laura Newport, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street, NW., Room F516, Washington, DC 20508, at (202) 395-3475. 
All other questions should be directed to Constance Hamilton, Deputy 
Assistant, U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative, at (202) 395-9514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AGOA (Title I of the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000, Public Law 106-200) (19 U.S.C. 3721 et seq.), 
as amended, authorizes the President to designate sub-Saharan African 
countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries eligible for 
duty-free treatment for certain additional products under the 
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) (Title V of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) (the ``1974 Act'')), as well as for the 
preferential treatment the AGOA provides for certain textile and 
apparel articles.
    The President may designate a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African country eligible for both the additional GSP benefits and the 
textile and apparel benefits of the AGOA for countries meeting certain 
statutory requirements intended to prevent unlawful transshipment of 
such articles, if he determines that the country meets the eligibility 
criteria set forth in: (1) Section 104 of the AGOA; and (2) section 502 
of the 1974 Act. Currently, 37 countries are designated as beneficiary 
sub-Saharan African countries. Section 506A of the 1974 Act provides 
that the President shall monitor and review annually the progress of 
each sub-Saharan African country in meeting the foregoing eligibility 
criteria in order to determine whether each beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African country should continue to be eligible, and whether each sub-
Saharan African country that is currently not a beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African country, should be designated as such a country. Section 506A 
of the 1974 Act requires that, if the President determines that a 
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country is not making continual 
progress in meeting the eligibility requirements, he must terminate the 
designation of the country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
country.
    The Subcommittee is seeking public comments in connection with an 
interim review of the eligibility of Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger 
for the AGOA's benefits. The Subcommittee will consider any such 
comments in developing recommendations on country eligibility for the 
President. Comments related to the child labor criteria may also be 
considered by the Secretary of Labor in making the findings required 
under section 504 of the 1974 Act. The eligibility criteria can be 
found at: 19 U.S.C. 2462 (Section 502 of the 1974 Act) and 19 U.S.C. 
3703 (Section 104 of AGOA).
    Requirements for Submissions: Comments must be submitted in 
English. To ensure the most timely and expeditious receipt and 
consideration of petitions, USTR has arranged to accept on-line 
submissions via https://www.regulations.gov. To submit petitions via 
this site, enter docket number USTR-2011-0009 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 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 
``Help'' at the top of the home page.)
    The https://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of 
making submissions by filling in a ``Type comment & Upload file'' 
field, or by attaching a document. USTR prefers comments to be 
submitted as attachments. When doing this, it is sufficient to type 
``See attached'' in the ``Type comment & Upload file'' field. 
Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) are 
preferred.
    Persons wishing to file comments containing business confidential 
information must submit both a business confidential version and a 
public version. Persons submitting business confidential information 
should write ``See attached BC comments'' in the ``Type comment & 
Upload file'' field. Any page containing business confidential 
information must be clearly marked ``Business Confidential'' on the top 
of that page. Persons submitting a business confidential comment must 
also submit a separate public version of that comment with the business 
confidential information deleted. Persons should write ``See attached 
public version'' in the ``Type comment & Upload file'' field of the 
public submission. Submissions should not attach separate cover 
letters; rather, information that might appear in the cover letter 
should be included in the comments you submit. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments

[[Page 50285]]

to a submission in the same file as the submission itself and not as 
separate files.
    Public versions of all documents relating to this review will be 
available for review no later than two weeks after the due date at 
https://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2011-0009.

Donald W. Eiss,
Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2011-20486 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W1-P
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