Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services of New Zealand, 48386-48387 [2015-19746]

Download as PDF 48386 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices change clarifies that the Risk Management Subcommittee shall meet when deemed necessary or desirable by the Risk Management Subcommittee or its chairperson. The Commission believes that these proposed clarifications are reasonably designed to ensure that ICC’s governance arrangements are clear and transparent to fulfill the public interest requirements in Section 17A of the Act.9 Accordingly, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 17A of the Act 10 and the rules thereunder applicable to ICC. Dated: August 10, 2015. Brent J. Fields, Secretary. IV. Conclusion The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold its regular business meeting on September 10, 2015, in Binghamton, New York. Details concerning the matters to be addressed at the business meeting are contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. DATES: September 10, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. ADDRESSES: DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton, Grand Riverside Room, 225 Water Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.14 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–19764 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Federal Register Citation of Previous Announcement: [To Be Published] STATUS: Closed Meeting. PLACE: 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC. DATE AND TIME OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED MEETING: Thursday, August 13, 2015. Cancellation of Meeting. The Closed Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. has been cancelled. For further information please contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 551– 5400. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES CHANGE IN THE MEETING: 9 15 U.S.C. 78q–1. U.S.C. 78q–1. 11 15 U.S.C. 78q–1. 12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 13 In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission considered the proposal’s impact on efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 14 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 10 15 18:16 Aug 11, 2015 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Commission Meeting Susquehanna River Basin Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in particular with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act 11 and the rules and regulations thereunder. It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,12 that the proposed rule change (File No. SR–ICC– 2015–012) be, and hereby is, approved.13 VerDate Sep<11>2014 [FR Doc. 2015–19993 Filed 8–10–15; 4:15 pm] Jkt 235001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason E. Oyler, General Counsel, telephone: (717) 238–0423, ext. 1312; fax: (717) 238–2436. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The business meeting will include actions or presentations on the following items: (1) Informational presentation of interest to the Upper Susquehanna Subbasin area; (2) resolution to correct Exhibit A attached to Resolution No. 2013–11; (3) release of proposed rulemaking for public comment; (4) amendment of the Comprehensive Plan for the Water Resources of the Susquehanna River Basin; (5) ratification/approval of grants; (6) regulatory compliance matter for Downs Racing L.P.; (7) Panda Power Funds request for transfer of ownership of Hummel Station LLC (Docket Nos. 20081222 and 20081222–2); and (8) Regulatory Program projects. The business meeting may also include requests to extend emergency certificates for Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. and Furman Foods, Inc. Projects, amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, and request for conditional transfer listed for Commission action are those that were the subject of a public hearing conducted by the Commission on August 6, 2015, and identified in the notice for such hearing, which was published in 80 FR 39190, July 8, 2015. Opportunity To Appear and Comment Interested parties are invited to attend the business meeting and encouraged to PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 review the Commission’s Public Meeting Rules of Conduct, which are posted on the Commission’s Web site, www.srbc.net. As identified in the public hearing notices referenced above, written comments on the Regulatory Program projects, the amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, and request for conditional transfer that were the subject of a public hearing, and are listed for action at the business meeting, are subject to a comment deadline of August 17, 2015. Written comments pertaining to any other matters listed for action at the business meeting may be mailed to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 4423 North Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110–1788, or submitted electronically through https://www.srbc.net/pubinfo/ publicparticipation.htm. Any such comments mailed or electronically submitted must be received by the Commission on or before September 4, 2015, to be considered. Authority: Pub. L. 91–575, 84 Stat. 1509 et seq., 18 CFR parts 806, 807, and 808. Dated: August 6, 2015. Stephanie L. Richardson, Secretary to the Commission. [FR Doc. 2015–19718 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7040–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services of New Zealand Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979. AGENCY: DATES: Effective Date: August 12, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Pietan, Director of International Procurement Policy, (202) 395–9646, or Arthur Tsao, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395–6987, Office of the United States Trade Representative. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 2014, the WTO Committee on Government Procurement approved the accession of New Zealand to the World Trade Organization (‘‘WTO’’) Agreement on Government Procurement (‘‘GPA’’). New Zealand submitted its instrument of accession to the SecretaryGeneral of the WTO on July 13, 2015. The GPA will enter into force for New Zealand on August 12, 2015. The United States, which is also a party to the GPA, E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices has agreed to waive discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of New Zealand beginning on August 12, 2015. Section 1–201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 delegated the functions of the President under sections 301 and 302 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (‘‘the Trade Agreements Act’’) (19 U.S.C. 2511, 2512) to the United States Trade Representative. Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the GPA, I hereby determine that: 1. New Zealand has become a party to the GPA and will provide appropriate reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities to United States products and services and suppliers of such products and services. In accordance with section 301(b)(1) of the Trade Agreements Act, New Zealand is so designated for purposes of section 301(a) of the Trade Agreements Act. 2. Accordingly, beginning on August 12, 2015, with respect to eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the GPA for procurement by the United States) of New Zealand and suppliers of such products, the application of any law, regulation, procedure, or practice regarding government procurement that would, if applied to such products and suppliers, result in treatment less favorable than that accorded— (A) To United States products and suppliers of such products, or (B) To eligible products of another foreign country or instrumentality which is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such products, shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all entities listed in United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1. 3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2. Michael B.G. Froman, United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2015–19746 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 3290–F5–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Public Comments on the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act: Report to Congress Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 Aug 11, 2015 Jkt 235001 Notice and request for public comment. ACTION: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking the views of interested parties on the operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), as amended by the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Section 212(f) of the CBERA, as amended, requires the President to submit a report to Congress regarding the operation of the CBERA and CBTPA (together commonly referred to as the Caribbean Basin Initiative, or CBI) on or before December 31, 2001, and every two years thereafter. The TPSC invites written comments concerning the operation of the CBI, including comments on the performance of each CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary country under the criteria described in sections 212(b), 212(c), and 213(b)(5)(B) of CBERA, as amended. This information will be used in the preparation of the report to Congress on the operation of the program. DATES: Public comments are due at USTR no later than 5 p.m., October 5, 2015. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made at https:// www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR–2015–0008 (see ‘‘Requirements for Submission’’ below). If you are unable to make a submission at www.regulations.gov, please contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–9603 to make other arrangements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning written comments, contact Yvonne Jamison, Office of the United States Trade Representative, at (202) 395–9666. All other questions should be directed to Duncan Walker, Office of the Western Hemisphere, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Room 523, Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395– 6135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on any aspect of the program’s operation, including the performance of CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary countries under the criteria described in sections 212(b), 212(c), and 213(b)(5)(B) of the CBERA, as amended. Those criteria may be accessed at https:// www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011title19/html/USCODE-2011-title19chap15.htm and are listed below. This report will also examine the CBI’s effect on the volume and composition of trade and investment between the United States and the CBI beneficiary countries SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48387 and on advancing U.S. trade policy goals as set forth in the CBTPA. Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago receive benefits under both CBERA and CBTPA. Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines currently receive benefits only under CBERA. A copy of the 2013 CBI report is available at https://ustr.gov/sites/ default/files/ CBERA%20Report%20Final.pdf. Reporting Requirements on the Eligibility Criteria for All CBI Beneficiary Countries Section 212(f)(1) of CBERA requires USTR to report the performance of each beneficiary country or CBTPA beneficiary country under the criteria of section 213(b)(5)(B) which includes, inter alia, the following: (1) Whether the beneficiary country has demonstrated a commitment to undertake its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) on or ahead of schedule and participate in negotiations toward the completion of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) or another free trade agreement. (2) The extent to which the country provides protection of intellectual property rights consistent with or greater than the protection afforded under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. (3) The extent to which the country provides internationally recognized worker rights including— (I) The right of association; (II) The right to organize and bargain collectively; (III) A prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor; (IV) A minimum age for the employment of children; and (V) Acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health. (4) Whether the country has implemented its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, as defined in Section 507(6) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. (5) The extent to which the country has met U.S. counter-narcotics certification criteria under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. (6) The extent to which the country has taken steps to become a party to and implement the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. (7) The extent to which the country applies transparent, nondiscriminatory and competitive procedures in E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48386-48387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19746]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services of New Zealand

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

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DATES: Effective Date: August 12, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Pietan, Director of 
International Procurement Policy, (202) 395-9646, or Arthur Tsao, 
Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-6987, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 2014, the WTO Committee on 
Government Procurement approved the accession of New Zealand to the 
World Trade Organization (``WTO'') Agreement on Government Procurement 
(``GPA''). New Zealand submitted its instrument of accession to the 
Secretary-General of the WTO on July 13, 2015. The GPA will enter into 
force for New Zealand on August 12, 2015. The United States, which is 
also a party to the GPA,

[[Page 48387]]

has agreed to waive discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible 
products and suppliers of New Zealand beginning on August 12, 2015.
    Section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 
delegated the functions of the President under sections 301 and 302 of 
the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (``the Trade Agreements Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2511, 2512) to the United States Trade Representative.
    Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade 
Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the 
GPA, I hereby determine that:
    1. New Zealand has become a party to the GPA and will provide 
appropriate reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities 
to United States products and services and suppliers of such products 
and services. In accordance with section 301(b)(1) of the Trade 
Agreements Act, New Zealand is so designated for purposes of section 
301(a) of the Trade Agreements Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on August 12, 2015, with respect to 
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the 
GPA for procurement by the United States) of New Zealand and suppliers 
of such products, the application of any law, regulation, procedure, or 
practice regarding government procurement that would, if applied to 
such products and suppliers, result in treatment less favorable than 
that accorded--
    (A) To United States products and suppliers of such products, or
    (B) To eligible products of another foreign country or 
instrumentality which is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such 
products,
    shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all entities 
listed in United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.
    3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation 
in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2.

Michael B.G. Froman,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2015-19746 Filed 8-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F5-P

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