Request for Petitions To Modify the Rules of Origin Under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, 9724-9725 [2012-3717]

Download as PDF 9724 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices Executive Service members: Lois E. Quam, Chairperson, Executive Director for the Global Health Initiative, Office of the Secretary, Department of State; Frank A. Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Department of State; Sharon L. Waxman, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Department of State. Dated: February 13, 2012. Steven A. Browning, Acting Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2012–3788 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–15–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Petitions To Modify the Rules of Origin Under the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of opportunity to file petitions requesting changes to the nontextile and non-apparel products rules of origin under the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement (‘‘the Agreement’’ or ‘‘CAFTA–DR’’). AGENCY: This notice solicits proposals on appropriate changes that USTR should consider for modifying the CAFTA–DR’s rules of origin under Article 4.14 of the Agreement. DATES: Public comments are due at USTR by close of business, April 17, 2012. ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: https://www.regulations.gov. For alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Kent Shigetomi at (202) 395–9459. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Shigetomi, Director for Mexico, NAFTA, and the Caribbean, at (202) 395–9459. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2012, the CAFTA–DR Free Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘the Commission’’), the plurilateral ministerial-level body responsible for supervising the implementation of the CAFTA–DR, agreed to consider modifying the rules of origin established in the Agreement, particularly in light of more recent free trade agreements. The CAFTA–DR requires each government to provide preferential tariff treatment to goods that meet the Agreement’s origin mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:08 Feb 16, 2012 Jkt 226001 rules. In the United States, those rules are implemented through the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 109–53, 119 Stat. 462) (19 U.S.C. 4011(a) (‘‘the Act’’)). Under the Act, goods imported into the United States qualify for preferential treatment if they meet the requirements of the general CAFTA–DR rules of origin set out in section 203 of the Act and the CAFTA– DR product-specific rules set out in the Harmonized Tariff System. The Agreement allows the Parties to amend the Agreement’s origin rules as they deem appropriate. Section 203(o)(3) of the Act authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to the CAFTA– DR product-specific origin rules set forth in the HTS, subject to the consultation and layover provisions of section 104 of the Act. Additional Information: The United States and the other CAFTA–DR Parties have not yet decided whether to make changes to the Agreement’s rules of origin and, if such changes were made, what the scope or extent of such changes should be. The United States and the other CAFTA–DR Parties expect to take into account several factors in considering whether to make such changes, including: (1) The extent that any such changes may reduce transaction and manufacturing costs or increase trade among the Parties; (2) the feasibility of devising, implementing, and monitoring new rules of origin; and (3) the level and breadth of interest that manufacturers, processors, traders, and consumers in the Parties express for making particular changes. The Parties expect to make only those changes that are broadly supported by stakeholders in all countries. Requirements for Comments/ Proposals: Submitters should indicate whether they have discussed their proposals with representatives of the relevant sector in the other Parties and, if such discussions have taken place, the result of those discussions. Submissions should indicate if representatives of the relevant sector in the other Parties do not support the proposal. USTR encourages interested parties to consider submitting proposals jointly with interested parties in the other Parties. Scope and Coverage of Proposals: USTR encourages interested parties to review the broadest appropriate range of items and to submit proposals that reflect a consensus reached after such a broad-based review. A single proposal can thus include requests covering multiple tariff headings. Proposals should cover entire 8-digit tariff PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 subheadings, and may also be submitted at the 6, 4, or 2 digit level where the intent is to cover all subsidiary tariff lines. Requirements for Submissions: Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the submission) ‘‘CAFTA–DR Rules of Origin.’’ In order to be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by noon, [60 days after publication]. In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments should be submitted under the following docket: USTR–2012–0002. To find the docket, enter the docket number in the ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID’’ window at the https:// www.regulations.gov 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 ‘‘Notices’’ under ‘‘Document Type’’ on the search-results page, and click on the link entitled ‘‘Submit a Comment.’’ (For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on the ‘‘Help’’ tab.) The https://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of making submissions by filling in a comments field, or by attaching a document. USTR prefers submissions to be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ and attach a file in the ‘‘Upload File(s)’’ field. USTR also prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ‘‘Comments’’ field. A person seeking to request that information contained in a submission from that person be treated as business confidential information must certify that such information is business confidential and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter. For any comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters ‘‘BC.’’ Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such. The submission must be marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and the submission should indicate, via brackets, the specific information that is confidential. E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM 17FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices Additionally, ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ must be included in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. Filers of submissions containing business confidential information must also submit a public version of their comments indicating where confidential information has been redacted. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ‘‘P.’’ The ‘‘BC’’ and ‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments or reply comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the character ‘‘P,’’ followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files. USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements must be made with Kent Shigetomi in advance of transmitting a comment. Mr. Shigetomi should be contacted at (202) 395–9459. General information concerning USTR is available at https:// www.ustr.gov. Inspection of Submissions: Submissions in response to this notice, except for information granted ‘‘business confidential’’ status, will be available for public viewing at https:// www.regulations.gov. Such submissions may be viewed by entering the docket number USTR–2012–0002 in the search field at: https://www.regulations.gov. John M. Melle, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas. [FR Doc. 2012–3717 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W2–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:08 Feb 16, 2012 Jkt 226001 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted regarding the passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies comply with 49 CFR Part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirement, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on November 25, 2011 (76 FR 72750). The agency received no comments. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 19, 2012. ADDRESSES: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carlita Ballard at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs (NVS–131), 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., West Building, Room W43–439, NVS–131, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Ballard’s telephone number is (202) 366–0846. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control Number. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Title: 49 CFR part 544; Insurer Reporting Requirement. OMB Control Number: 2127–0547. Type of Request: Request for public comment on a previously approved collection of information. Abstract: This information collection supports the Department’s strategic goal PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9725 of Economic Growth and Trade. The Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984, added Title VI to the Motor Vehicle and Information Cost Savings Act (recodified as Chapter 331 of Title 49, United States Code) which mandated this information collection. The 1984 Theft Act was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act (ACTA) of 1992 (Pub. L. 102–519). NHTSA is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 33112, to collect this information. This information collection supports the agency’s economic growth and trade goal through rulemaking implementation developed to help reduce the cost of vehicle ownership by reducing the cost of comprehensive insurance coverage. 49 U.S.C. 33112 requires certain passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on comprehensive insurance premiums, theft and recoveries and actions taken to address motor vehicle theft. Affected Public: Business or other for profit. Estimated Total Annual Burden: Based on prior years’ insurer compilation information, the agency estimates that the time to review and compile information for the reports will take approximately a total of 19,625 burden hours (17,500 man-hours for 25 insurance companies and 2,125 manhours for 5 rental and leasing companies). Claim Adjusters incur separate burden hours from the number of insurers. Claim adjuster’s duties are those of normal business practice and do not assist in preparing or compiling information for the reports. There has been a decrease in the number of companies required to report since the last reporting period, also, some companies have merged into one entity or have been exempted from the reporting requirements since the last reporting period. The agency has reestimated the burden hours to be 19,625 total annual hours requested in lieu of 63,238 as the current OMB inventory. This is a decrease of 43,613 hours. Most recent year insurer compilation information estimates reveal that it takes an average cost of $47.00 per hour for clerical and technical staff to prepare the annual reports. Therefore, the agency estimates the total cost associated with the burden hours is $922,375. The burden hour for rental and leasing companies is significantly less than that for insurance companies because rental and leasing companies comply with fewer reporting requirements than the insurance companies. The reporting burden is E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM 17FEN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9724-9725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3717]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Petitions To Modify the Rules of Origin Under the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity to file petitions requesting changes to 
the non-textile and non-apparel products rules of origin under the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
(``the Agreement'' or ``CAFTA-DR'').

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

SUMMARY: This notice solicits proposals on appropriate changes that 
USTR should consider for modifying the CAFTA-DR's rules of origin under 
Article 4.14 of the Agreement.

DATES: Public comments are due at USTR by close of business, April 17, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: https://www.regulations.gov. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Kent Shigetomi at 
(202) 395-9459.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Shigetomi, Director for Mexico, 
NAFTA, and the Caribbean, at (202) 395-9459.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2012, the CAFTA-DR Free Trade 
Commission (``FTC'' or ``the Commission''), the plurilateral 
ministerial-level body responsible for supervising the implementation 
of the CAFTA-DR, agreed to consider modifying the rules of origin 
established in the Agreement, particularly in light of more recent free 
trade agreements. The CAFTA-DR requires each government to provide 
preferential tariff treatment to goods that meet the Agreement's origin 
rules. In the United States, those rules are implemented through the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (Public Law 109-53, 119 Stat. 462) (19 U.S.C. 
4011(a) (``the Act'')). Under the Act, goods imported into the United 
States qualify for preferential treatment if they meet the requirements 
of the general CAFTA-DR rules of origin set out in section 203 of the 
Act and the CAFTA-DR product-specific rules set out in the Harmonized 
Tariff System. The Agreement allows the Parties to amend the 
Agreement's origin rules as they deem appropriate. Section 203(o)(3) of 
the Act authorizes the President to proclaim modifications to the 
CAFTA-DR product-specific origin rules set forth in the HTS, subject to 
the consultation and layover provisions of section 104 of the Act.
    Additional Information: The United States and the other CAFTA-DR 
Parties have not yet decided whether to make changes to the Agreement's 
rules of origin and, if such changes were made, what the scope or 
extent of such changes should be. The United States and the other 
CAFTA-DR Parties expect to take into account several factors in 
considering whether to make such changes, including: (1) The extent 
that any such changes may reduce transaction and manufacturing costs or 
increase trade among the Parties; (2) the feasibility of devising, 
implementing, and monitoring new rules of origin; and (3) the level and 
breadth of interest that manufacturers, processors, traders, and 
consumers in the Parties express for making particular changes. The 
Parties expect to make only those changes that are broadly supported by 
stakeholders in all countries.
    Requirements for Comments/Proposals: Submitters should indicate 
whether they have discussed their proposals with representatives of the 
relevant sector in the other Parties and, if such discussions have 
taken place, the result of those discussions. Submissions should 
indicate if representatives of the relevant sector in the other Parties 
do not support the proposal. USTR encourages interested parties to 
consider submitting proposals jointly with interested parties in the 
other Parties.
    Scope and Coverage of Proposals: USTR encourages interested parties 
to review the broadest appropriate range of items and to submit 
proposals that reflect a consensus reached after such a broad-based 
review. A single proposal can thus include requests covering multiple 
tariff headings. Proposals should cover entire 8-digit tariff 
subheadings, and may also be submitted at the 6, 4, or 2 digit level 
where the intent is to cover all subsidiary tariff lines.
    Requirements for Submissions: Persons submitting written comments 
must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the 
submission) ``CAFTA-DR Rules of Origin.'' In order to be assured of 
consideration, comments should be submitted by noon, [60 days after 
publication].
    In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of 
comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line 
submissions, using the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments 
should be submitted under the following docket: USTR-2012-0002. To find 
the docket, enter the docket number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' 
window at the https://www.regulations.gov 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 ``Notices'' under ``Document Type'' on the search-results 
page, and click on the link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further 
information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult 
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on the ``Help'' 
tab.)
    The https://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of 
making submissions by filling in a comments field, or by attaching a 
document. USTR prefers submissions to be provided in an attached 
document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type ``See 
attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' and attach a file in the ``Upload 
File(s)'' field. USTR also prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) 
or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application other 
than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the 
``Comments'' field.
    A person seeking to request that information contained in a 
submission from that person be treated as business confidential 
information must certify that such information is business confidential 
and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter. 
For any comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC.'' Confidential business 
information must be clearly designated as such. The submission must be 
marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and bottom of the cover 
page and each succeeding page, and the submission should indicate, via 
brackets, the specific information that is confidential.

[[Page 9725]]

Additionally, ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' must be included in the ``Type 
Comment'' field. Filers of submissions containing business confidential 
information must also submit a public version of their comments 
indicating where confidential information has been redacted. The non-
confidential summary will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the 
character ``P.'' The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of 
the person or entity submitting the comments or reply comments. Filers 
submitting comments containing no business confidential information 
should name their file using the character ``P,'' followed by the name 
of the person or entity submitting the comments.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a 
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in 
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
    USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be made with Kent Shigetomi in advance of transmitting a comment. 
Mr. Shigetomi should be contacted at (202) 395-9459. General 
information concerning USTR is available at https://www.ustr.gov.
    Inspection of Submissions: Submissions in response to this notice, 
except for information granted ``business confidential'' status, will 
be available for public viewing at https://www.regulations.gov. Such 
submissions may be viewed by entering the docket number USTR-2012-0002 
in the search field at: https://www.regulations.gov.

John M. Melle,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas.
[FR Doc. 2012-3717 Filed 2-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W2-P

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