Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments, 48291-48292 [2014-19310]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 158 / Friday, August 15, 2014 / Notices IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– Phlx–2014–52 on the subject line. Paper Comments emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–2014–52. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–Phlx– 2014–52, and should be submitted on or before September 5, 2014. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.13 13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:31 Aug 14, 2014 Jkt 232001 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–19334 Filed 8–14–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China’s Compliance With WTO Commitments Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing concerning China’s compliance with its WTO commitments. AGENCY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to the Congress on China’s compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). DATES: Persons wishing to testify at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention, as well as a summary of their testimony, by Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Written comments are also due by Wednesday, September 17, 2014. A hearing will be held in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. ADDRESSES: Notifications of intent to testify and written comments should be submitted electronically via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395– 3475. SUMMARY: For procedural questions concerning written comments or participation in the public hearing, contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475. All other questions should be directed to Terrence J. McCartin, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Enforcement, at (202) 395–3900, or Philip D. Chen, Chief Counsel for China Enforcement, at (202) 395–3150. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Background China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–286), USTR is required to submit, by December 11 of each year, a report to PO 00000 Frm 00180 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48291 Congress on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including both multilateral commitments and any bilateral commitments made to the United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist it in preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is hereby soliciting public comment. Last year’s report is available on USTR’s Internet Web site (https://www.ustr.gov/sites/ default/files/2013-Report-to-CongressChina-WTO-Compliance.pdf). The terms of China’s accession to the WTO are contained in the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s Republic of China (including its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. The Protocol and Working Party Report can be found on the Department of Commerce Web page, https://www.mac.doc.gov/china/ WTOAccessionPackageNEW.html, or on the WTO Web site, https:// docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/MIN(01)/3, WT/ MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/MIN(01)/3/ Add.2). 2. Public Comment and Hearing USTR invites written comments and/ or oral testimony of interested persons on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following areas: (a) Trading rights; (b) import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import licenses); (c) export regulation; (d) internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and charges levied on imports and exports); (e) intellectual property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement); (f) services; (g) rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform; and (h) other WTO commitments. In addition, given the United States’ view that China should be held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the international trading system, USTR requests that interested persons specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review and evaluation by USTR’s China Enforcement Task Force. Written comments must be received no later than Wednesday, September 17, 2014. A hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, in Room 1, 1724 F E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM 15AUN1 48292 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 158 / Friday, August 15, 2014 / Notices emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Street NW., Washington, DC 20508. If necessary, the hearing will continue on the next business day. Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention by Wednesday, September 17, 2014. The intent to testify notification must be made in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field under docket number USTR–2014– 0015 on the regulations.gov Web site and should include the name, address and telephone number of the person presenting the testimony. A summary of the testimony should be attached by using the ‘‘Upload File’’ field. The name of the file should also include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. All documents should be submitted in accordance with the instructions in section 3 below. 3. Requirements for Submissions Persons submitting a notification of intent to testify and/or written comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the submission) ‘‘China’s WTO Compliance.’’ In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2014–0015 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 and click on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now!’’ (For further information on using the 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 Web site allows users to provide comments by filling in a ‘‘Type Comment’’ field, or by attaching a document using an ‘‘Upload File’’ field. USTR prefers that comments be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. USTR 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 ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. For any comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:31 Aug 14, 2014 Jkt 232001 should begin with the characters ‘‘BC.’’ Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ on the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing business confidential information must also submit a public version of their comments. 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. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using 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. As noted above, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements must be made with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting the comments. Ms. Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395–3475. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in the search field on the home page. Douglas M. Bell, Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee. [FR Doc. 2014–19310 Filed 8–14–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F4–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Public Comments To Compile the National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Pursuant to section 181 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2241), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is required to publish annually the National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE). With this notice, the Trade Policy Staff Committee SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00181 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (TPSC) is requesting interested persons to submit comments to assist it in identifying significant barriers to U.S. exports of goods, services, and U.S. foreign direct investment for inclusion in the NTE. The TPSC invites written comments from the public on issues that USTR should examine in preparing the NTE. In recent years in conjunction with the NTE report, USTR has released two additional reports dealing with specific trade barriers—one on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and one on standards-related measures. In 2015, USTR will continue to emphasize these two important areas, but is inviting comments on those barriers through this notice. DATES: Public comments are due not later than 11:59 p.m., October 29, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submissions should be made via the Internet at www.regulations.gov docket number USTR–2014–0014. For alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison (202–395–3475). The public is strongly encouraged to file submissions electronically rather than by facsimile or mail. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the NTE or on submitting comments in response to this notice should be directed to Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NTE sets out an inventory of the most important foreign barriers affecting U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and protection of intellectual property rights. The inventory facilitates U.S. negotiations aimed at reducing or eliminating these barriers. The report also provides a valuable tool in enforcing U.S. trade laws and strengthening the rules-based trading system. The 2014 NTE Report may be found on USTR’s Internet Home Page (https://www.ustr.gov) under the tab ‘‘Reports’’. To ensure compliance with the NTE’s statutory mandate and the Obama Administration’s commitment to focus on the most significant foreign trade barriers, USTR will be guided by the existence of active private sector interest in deciding which restrictions to include in the NTE. Topics on which the TPSC Seeks Information: To assist USTR in preparing the NTE, commenters should submit information related to one or more of the following categories of foreign trade barriers: (1) Import policies (e.g., tariffs and other import charges, quantitative restrictions, import licensing, and customs barriers); E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM 15AUN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48291-48292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19310]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning 
China's Compliance With WTO Commitments

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing concerning 
China's compliance with its WTO commitments.

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

SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will 
convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office 
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of 
its annual report to the Congress on China's compliance with the 
commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade 
Organization (WTO).

DATES: Persons wishing to testify at the hearing must provide written 
notification of their intention, as well as a summary of their 
testimony, by Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Written comments are also 
due by Wednesday, September 17, 2014. A hearing will be held in 
Washington, DC, on Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Notifications of intent to testify and written comments 
should be submitted electronically via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please 
contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-
3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
written comments or participation in the public hearing, contact Yvonne 
Jamison at (202) 395-3475. All other questions should be directed to 
Terrence J. McCartin, Deputy Assistant United States Trade 
Representative for China Enforcement, at (202) 395-3900, or Philip D. 
Chen, Chief Counsel for China Enforcement, at (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In 
accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 
(Pub. L. 106-286), USTR is required to submit, by December 11 of each 
year, a report to Congress on China's compliance with commitments made 
in connection with its accession to the WTO, including both 
multilateral commitments and any bilateral commitments made to the 
United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist it in 
preparing this year's report, the TPSC is hereby soliciting public 
comment. Last year's report is available on USTR's Internet Web site 
(https://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2013-Report-to-Congress-China-WTO-Compliance.pdf).
    The terms of China's accession to the WTO are contained in the 
Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China (including 
its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the 
Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. The 
Protocol and Working Party Report can be found on the Department of 
Commerce Web page, https://www.mac.doc.gov/china/WTOAccessionPackageNEW.html, or on the WTO Web site, https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/MIN(01)/3, WT/
MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.2).

2. Public Comment and Hearing

    USTR invites written comments and/or oral testimony of interested 
persons on China's compliance with commitments made in connection with 
its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in 
the following areas: (a) Trading rights; (b) import regulation (e.g., 
tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import licenses); (c) export 
regulation; (d) internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, 
standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, 
taxes and charges levied on imports and exports); (e) intellectual 
property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement); 
(f) services; (g) rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial 
review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of 
legal reform; and (h) other WTO commitments. In addition, given the 
United States' view that China should be held accountable as a full 
participant in, and beneficiary of, the international trading system, 
USTR requests that interested persons specifically identify unresolved 
compliance issues that warrant review and evaluation by USTR's China 
Enforcement Task Force.
    Written comments must be received no later than Wednesday, 
September 17, 2014.
    A hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, in Room 1, 
1724 F

[[Page 48292]]

Street NW., Washington, DC 20508. If necessary, the hearing will 
continue on the next business day. Persons wishing to testify orally at 
the hearing must provide written notification of their intention by 
Wednesday, September 17, 2014. The intent to testify notification must 
be made in the ``Type Comment'' field under docket number USTR-2014-
0015 on the regulations.gov Web site and should include the name, 
address and telephone number of the person presenting the testimony. A 
summary of the testimony should be attached by using the ``Upload 
File'' field. The name of the file should also include who will be 
presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to 
no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the 
TPSC.
    All documents should be submitted in accordance with the 
instructions in section 3 below.

3. Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting a notification of intent to testify and/or 
written comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first 
page of the submission) ``China's WTO Compliance.''
    In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of 
comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line 
submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments 
via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2014-0015 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 and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For 
further information on using the 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 Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided 
in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to 
type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field. USTR 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 ``Type Comment'' field.
    For any comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC.'' Any page containing 
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of submissions 
containing business confidential information must also submit a public 
version of their comments. 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. Filers 
submitting comments containing no business confidential information 
should name their file using 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.
    As noted above, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments 
through www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative 
arrangements must be made with Yvonne Jamison in advance of 
transmitting the comments. Ms. Jamison should be contacted at (202) 
395-3475. General information concerning USTR is available at 
www.ustr.gov.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be 
viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant 
docket number in the search field on the home page.

Douglas M. Bell,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2014-19310 Filed 8-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P

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