Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Results of the GSP Limited Product Review, Including Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs), 60731-60732 [2015-25548]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices ACTION: Notice. This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster for the State of FLORIDA dated 09/29/ 2015. Incident: Severe storms and flooding. Incident Period: 07/25/2015 through 08/09/2015. Effective Date: 09/29/2015. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 11/30/2015. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/29/2016. ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan applications to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., Suite 6050, Washington, DC 20416. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that as a result of the Administrator’s disaster declaration, applications for disaster loans may be filed at the address listed above or other locally announced locations. The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster: Primary Counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas. Contiguous Counties: Florida, Hardee, Hernando, Manatee, Polk, Sumter. The Interest Rates are: SUMMARY: asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Percent For Physical Damage: Homeowners with Credit Available Elsewhere ...................... Homeowners without Credit Available Elsewhere .............. Businesses with Credit Available Elsewhere ...................... Businesses without Credit Available Elsewhere ...................... Non-Profit Organizations with Credit Available Elsewhere ... Non-Profit Organizations without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... For Economic Injury: Businesses & Small Agricultural Cooperatives without Credit Available Elsewhere .............. Non-Profit Organizations without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... Dated: September 29, 2015. Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator. Results of the GSP Limited Product Review [FR Doc. 2015–25454 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8025–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Results of the GSP Limited Product Review, Including Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations (CNLs) Office of the United States Trade Representative. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice. This notice announces the results of the GSP Limited Product Review launched in July 2015, including: (1) The designation of certain cotton products as eligible for GSP benefits when imported from leastdeveloped beneficiary developing countries (LDBDCs), and (2) the results of the review of CNL-related issues arising from 2014 import data, including CNL waivers, CNL waiver revocations, requests for redesignation of certain products, and de minimis CNL waivers. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Larsen, Director for GSP, Office of the United States Trade Representative. The telephone number is (202) 395–2974, the fax number is (202) 395–9674, and the email address is ALarsen@ustr.eop.gov. The GSP program provides for the duty-free 1.875 treatment of designated articles when imported from beneficiary developing 6.000 countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act 4.000 of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), as 2.625 amended, and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by 2.625 subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations. The GSP program expired on July 31, 4.000 2013. GSP was reauthorized on June 29, 2015, by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The GSP 2.625 program is now effective through December 31, 2017, with retroactive The number assigned to this disaster effect through July 31, 2013. Pursuant to for physical damage is 14484 6 and for the Trade Preferences Extension Act of economic injury is 14485 0. 2015, exclusions from GSP duty-free The State which received an EIDL treatment where CNLs have been Declaration # is Florida exceeded for calendar year 2014 will be effective October 1, 2015, unless granted (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers 59002 and 59008) a waiver by the President. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 3.750 Jkt 238001 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60731 Pursuant to Section 203 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) conducted a limited GSP review encompassing products that, based on full-year 2014 import data, are subject to CNL-related actions, including exclusions, waivers, and revocation of waivers, as well as redesignations. As part of this review, the TPSC considered: (1) Petitions to waive CNLs for two products from Thailand; (2) revocation of CNL waivers for three products from beneficiary countries where 2014 imports exceeded certain statutory limits; (3) requests for redesignation of products previously excluded from GSP eligibility for certain beneficiary countries; and (4) products eligible for de minimis waivers of CNLs. As part of this review, the TPSC also considered the possible designation of certain cotton products for eligibility for GSP benefits when imported from LDBDCs under the GSP program. In a Presidential Proclamation dated September 30, 2015, the President implemented his decisions regarding GSP product eligibility issues arising out of this GSP product review, including CNL waivers and CNL revocations. This notice provides further information on the results of the GSP Limited Product Review. These results, comprising five lists, are available for the public to view at https://www.regulations.gov in docket USTR–2015–0007, under ‘‘Supporting and Related Materials’’ and at https:// ustr.gov/issue-areas/preferenceprograms/generalized-systempreferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp20142015. Specific Results The President designated five upland cotton fiber products as eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP when imported from LDBDCs. See List I (Products Added to the List of Eligible Products for GSP for Least Developed Beneficiary Developing Countries). This designation is pursuant to the authority granted to the President in Section 202 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 and consistent with USTR’s December 2011 announcement of trade initiatives intended to enable leastdeveloped countries to benefit more fully from global trade. The President granted petitions for waivers of CNLs for two products from Thailand: (1) Coconuts otherwise prepared or preserved (HTS 2008.19.15) and (2) copper alloys (other than brass, cupro-nickel or nickel-silver), wire, E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1 60732 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices coated or plated with metal (HTS 7408.29.10). See List II (Decision on Petitions to Grant Waiver of the Competitive Need Limitation). Additionally, the President revoked existing CNL waivers for three products: (1) Certain plywood sheets (HTS 4412.31.40) from Indonesia; (2) certain copper, stranded wire (HTS 7413.00.10) from Turkey; and (3) certain copper cables and plaited bands (HTS 7413.00.50) from Turkey. See List III (Revocations of Competitive Need Limitation Waivers). The President also redesignated certain articles from GSP-eligible countries that had previously exceeded the CNLs, but had fallen below the CNL for total annual trade in 2014. The President redesignated as GSP-eligible: (1) Oilcake and other solid residues, resulting from the extraction of vegetable fats or oils, of sunflower seeds (HTS 2306.30.00) from Ukraine; (2) rare gases, other than argon (HTS 2804.29.00) from Ukraine; (3) insulated ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships (HTS 8544.30.00) from Indonesia; and (4) parts of railway/ tramway locomotives/rolling stock, axles (HTS 8607.19.03) from Ukraine. See List IV (Products Receiving GSP Redesignation). The President granted de minimis waivers to 98 articles that exceeded the 50-percent import-share CNL, but for which the aggregate value of all U.S. imports of that article was below the 2014 de minimis level of $22 million. See List V (Products Receiving De Minimis Waivers). The articles for which de minimis waivers were granted will continue to be eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP when imported from the associated countries. William D. Jackson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences and Chair of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2015–25548 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F6–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Highway Administration [FHWA Docket No. FHWA–2015–0020] Revision of Thirteen Controlling Criteria for Design; Notice and Request for Comment Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 238001 The geometric design standards for projects on the National Highway System (NHS) are incorporated by reference in FHWA regulations. These design standards are comprehensive in nature, covering a multitude of design characteristics, while allowing flexibility in application. Exceptions may be approved on a project basis for designs that do not conform to the minimum or limiting criteria set forth in the standards, policies, and standard specifications. The FHWA is updating its policy regarding controlling criteria for design. The current policy identifies 13 controlling criteria for design and requires formal design exceptions when any of the 13 controlling criteria are not met. The FHWA intends to further streamline the controlling criteria, and the application of these criteria, based on the results of recent research that evaluated the safety and operational effects of the 13 controlling criteria. The FHWA also intends to clarify when design exceptions are required and the documentation that is expected to support such requests. This notice solicits comments on the proposed revisions to the 13 controlling criteria for the design of projects on the NHS that require a design exception when adopted design criteria are not met, in accordance with FHWA regulations. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 7, 2015. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments to (202) 493– 2251. Alternatively, comments may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments must include the docket number that appears in the heading of this document. All comments received will be available for examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard or you may print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments in any one of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, or labor union). Anyone may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477–78). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the program discussed herein, contact Elizabeth Hilton, Geometric Design Engineer, FHWA Office of Program Administration, (512) 536–5970 or via email at elizabeth.hilton@dot.gov. For legal questions, please contact Robert Black, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366– 1359, or via email at Robert.Black@ dot.gov. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access and Filing You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the Federal Register’s home page at: https://www.archives.gov and the Government Printing Office’s Web page at: https:// www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Purpose of This Notice The FHWA is requesting comment on proposed revisions to the 13 controlling criteria for the design of projects on the NHS that require a design exception when not met, in accordance with 23 CFR 625.3(f). Design exceptions are an administrative tool used to document an engineer’s evaluation of possible solutions to a specific design issue, including the operational and safety performance of each option, impacts to the human and natural environment, and other factors, and demonstrating the reasons a particular solution that does not meet applicable design standards was selected. Many States have their own process for reviewing design deviations when State or Federal design criteria are not met. When used in this Notice, the term ‘design exception’ refers to documentation prepared for projects on the NHS when a controlling criterion is not met, and that must be approved by the FHWA or on behalf of FHWA if a State Transportation Agency (STA) has assumed this responsibility through a Stewardship and Oversight agreement. Stewardship and Oversight agreements set forth the agreement between FHWA and each STA on the roles and responsibilities of FHWA and the STA with respect to Title 23 project E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60731-60732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25548]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Results of the GSP 
Limited Product Review, Including Actions Related to Competitive Need 
Limitations (CNLs)

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the results of the GSP Limited Product 
Review launched in July 2015, including: (1) The designation of certain 
cotton products as eligible for GSP benefits when imported from least-
developed beneficiary developing countries (LDBDCs), and (2) the 
results of the review of CNL-related issues arising from 2014 import 
data, including CNL waivers, CNL waiver revocations, requests for 
redesignation of certain products, and de minimis CNL waivers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Larsen, Director for GSP, Office 
of the United States Trade Representative. The telephone number is 
(202) 395-2974, the fax number is (202) 395-9674, and the email address 
is ALarsen@ustr.eop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program provides for the duty-free 
treatment of designated articles when imported from beneficiary 
developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), as amended, and is 
implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 
1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential 
Proclamations.
    The GSP program expired on July 31, 2013. GSP was reauthorized on 
June 29, 2015, by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The GSP 
program is now effective through December 31, 2017, with retroactive 
effect through July 31, 2013. Pursuant to the Trade Preferences 
Extension Act of 2015, exclusions from GSP duty-free treatment where 
CNLs have been exceeded for calendar year 2014 will be effective 
October 1, 2015, unless granted a waiver by the President.

Results of the GSP Limited Product Review

    Pursuant to Section 203 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 
2015, the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) conducted a limited GSP 
review encompassing products that, based on full-year 2014 import data, 
are subject to CNL-related actions, including exclusions, waivers, and 
revocation of waivers, as well as redesignations. As part of this 
review, the TPSC considered: (1) Petitions to waive CNLs for two 
products from Thailand; (2) revocation of CNL waivers for three 
products from beneficiary countries where 2014 imports exceeded certain 
statutory limits; (3) requests for redesignation of products previously 
excluded from GSP eligibility for certain beneficiary countries; and 
(4) products eligible for de minimis waivers of CNLs. As part of this 
review, the TPSC also considered the possible designation of certain 
cotton products for eligibility for GSP benefits when imported from 
LDBDCs under the GSP program.
    In a Presidential Proclamation dated September 30, 2015, the 
President implemented his decisions regarding GSP product eligibility 
issues arising out of this GSP product review, including CNL waivers 
and CNL revocations. This notice provides further information on the 
results of the GSP Limited Product Review. These results, comprising 
five lists, are available for the public to view at https://www.regulations.gov in docket USTR-2015-0007, under ``Supporting and 
Related Materials'' and at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/preference-programs/generalized-system-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp-20142015.

Specific Results

    The President designated five upland cotton fiber products as 
eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP when imported from LDBDCs. 
See List I (Products Added to the List of Eligible Products for GSP for 
Least Developed Beneficiary Developing Countries). This designation is 
pursuant to the authority granted to the President in Section 202 of 
the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 and consistent with USTR's 
December 2011 announcement of trade initiatives intended to enable 
least-developed countries to benefit more fully from global trade.
    The President granted petitions for waivers of CNLs for two 
products from Thailand: (1) Coconuts otherwise prepared or preserved 
(HTS 2008.19.15) and (2) copper alloys (other than brass, cupro-nickel 
or nickel-silver), wire,

[[Page 60732]]

coated or plated with metal (HTS 7408.29.10). See List II (Decision on 
Petitions to Grant Waiver of the Competitive Need Limitation). 
Additionally, the President revoked existing CNL waivers for three 
products: (1) Certain plywood sheets (HTS 4412.31.40) from Indonesia; 
(2) certain copper, stranded wire (HTS 7413.00.10) from Turkey; and (3) 
certain copper cables and plaited bands (HTS 7413.00.50) from Turkey. 
See List III (Revocations of Competitive Need Limitation Waivers).
    The President also redesignated certain articles from GSP-eligible 
countries that had previously exceeded the CNLs, but had fallen below 
the CNL for total annual trade in 2014. The President redesignated as 
GSP-eligible: (1) Oilcake and other solid residues, resulting from the 
extraction of vegetable fats or oils, of sunflower seeds (HTS 
2306.30.00) from Ukraine; (2) rare gases, other than argon (HTS 
2804.29.00) from Ukraine; (3) insulated ignition wiring sets and other 
wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships (HTS 
8544.30.00) from Indonesia; and (4) parts of railway/tramway 
locomotives/rolling stock, axles (HTS 8607.19.03) from Ukraine. See 
List IV (Products Receiving GSP Redesignation).
    The President granted de minimis waivers to 98 articles that 
exceeded the 50-percent import-share CNL, but for which the aggregate 
value of all U.S. imports of that article was below the 2014 de minimis 
level of $22 million. See List V (Products Receiving De Minimis 
Waivers). The articles for which de minimis waivers were granted will 
continue to be eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP when imported 
from the associated countries.

William D. Jackson,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System 
of Preferences and Chair of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy 
Staff Committee Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2015-25548 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F6-P

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