2015/2016 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Product Review: Inviting Public Comments on Possible Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations, 10356-10358 [2016-04301]

Download as PDF 10356 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Notices to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. 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– BATS–2016–14 on the subject line. Paper Comments asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD 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–BATS–2016–14. 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 the filing will also 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 No. SR–BATS– 2016–14 and should be submitted on or before March 21, 2016. 54 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Feb 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.54 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–04252 Filed 2–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 2015/2016 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Product Review: Inviting Public Comments on Possible Actions Related to Competitive Need Limitations Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice and solicitation of comments. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of full 2015 calendar year import statistics relating to competitive need limitations (CNLs) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will accept public comments submitted by April 1, 2016, regarding: (1) Possible de minimis CNL waivers; and (2) possible redesignations of articles currently not eligible for GSP benefits because they previously exceeded the CNL thresholds. This notice also announces the withdrawal by the petitioners of certain previously accepted CNL waiver petitions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Larsen, Director for GSP, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Washington DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395–2974 and the email address is Aimee_B_Larsen@ ustr.eop.gov. SUMMARY: Public comments are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: I. Statutory Provisions Related to CNLs The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of designated articles when imported from designated beneficiary developing countries (BDCs). The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the ‘‘1974 Act’’). Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act sets out the two CNLs. When the President determines that a BDC exported to the United States during a calendar year either: (1) A quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a value in excess of the applicable amount for that PO 00000 Frm 00152 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 year ($170 million for 2015), or (2) a quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a value equal to or greater than 50 percent of the value of total U.S. imports of the article from all countries (the ‘‘50 percent’’ CNL), the President must terminate GSP duty-free treatment for that article from that BDC by no later than July 1 of the next calendar year, unless a waiver is granted. (Note—as announced in a November 17, 2015, Federal Register notice (FRN), petitions for CNL waivers are being considered under a separate timeline than that of the actions on CNLs set forth in this FRN). De minimis waivers: Under section 503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the President may waive the 50 percent CNL with respect to an eligible article imported from a BDC if the value of total imports of that article from all countries during the calendar year did not exceed the applicable de minimis amount for that year ($22.5 million for 2015). Redesignations: Under section 503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if imports of an eligible article from a BDC ceased to receive duty-free treatment due to exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the President may, subject to the considerations in sections 501 and 502 of the 1974 Act, redesignate such an article for duty-free treatment if imports in the most recently completed calendar year did not exceed the CNLs. CNL waiver revocation: Under Section 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a CNL waiver remains in effect until the President determines that it is no longer warranted due to changed circumstances. Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109–432, also provides that, ‘‘[n]ot later than July 1 of each year, the President should revoke any waiver that has then been in effect with respect to an article for five years or more if the beneficiary developing country has exported to the United States (directly or indirectly) during the preceding calendar year a quantity of the article— (I) having an appraised value in excess of 1.5 times the applicable amount set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that calendar year ($255 million in 2015); or (II) exceeding 75 percent of the appraised value of the total imports of that article into the United States during that calendar year.’’ Exclusions from GSP duty-free treatment where CNLs have been exceeded will be effective July 1, 2016, unless granted a waiver by the President. Any CNL-based exclusions, CNL waiver revocations, and decisions with respect to de minimis waivers and E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES redesignations will be based on full 2015 calendar year import data. II. 2015 Import Statistics In order to provide notice of articles that have exceeded the CNLs for 2015 and to afford an opportunity for comment regarding (1) potential de minimis waivers and (2) potential redesignations for 2015, USTR has posted product lists on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/ preference-programs/generalizedsystem-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/ gsp-20152016 under the title ‘‘2015 Import Statistics Relating to Competitive Need Limitations for the Generalized System of Preferences.’’ These lists can also be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket Number USTR–2015–0013. There were no articles that were subject to CNL waiver revocation for 2015 based on the provisions of Section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109–432. Full 2015 calendar year data for individual tariff subheadings may also be viewed on the Web site of the U.S. International Trade Commission at https:// dataweb.usitc.gov. The lists available on the USTR Web site contain, for each article, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading and BDC country of origin, the value of imports of the article for the 2015 calendar year, and the percentage of total U.S. imports of that article from all countries. The lists published on the USTR Web site are for informational purposes only. They may not include all articles to which the GSP CNLs may apply. All determinations and decisions regarding the CNLs of the GSP program will be based on full 2015 calendar year import data with respect to each GSP-eligible article. Each interested party is advised to conduct its own review of 2015 import data with respect to the possible application of the GSP CNL provisions. List I on the USTR Web site shows GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that exceeded a CNL by having been imported in excess of $170 million, or in a quantity equal to or greater than 50 percent of the total U.S. import value, in 2015. These products will be removed from eligibility for GSP for the subject countries on July 1, 2016, unless the President grants a waiver for the product for the subject country in response to a petition filed by an interested party. Such petitions for CNL waivers must have been previously submitted in the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review. (See 80 FR 50376 and 80 FR 71913.) The last column in List I shows those products for which petitions have VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Feb 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 been accepted and are now under review. List II identifies GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that are above the 50 percent CNL, but that are eligible for a de minimis waiver of the 50 percent CNL. Articles eligible for de minimis waivers are automatically considered in the GSP annual review process, without the filing of a petition. List III shows GSPeligible articles from certain BDCs that are currently not receiving GSP dutyfree treatment, but that may be considered for GSP redesignation based on 2015 trade data and consideration of certain statutory factors. Recommendations to the President on de minimis waivers and redesignations will be made as part of the GSP annual review process, and public comments (including comments in support of or in opposition to de minimis waivers and redesignations) are invited in accordance with the Requirements for Submissions below. III. Public Comments Requirements for Submissions Written comments submitted in response to this notice must be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016. All submissions must be made in English and submitted electronically via https:// www.regulations.gov, using docket number USTR–2015–0013. Handdelivered submissions will not be accepted. All submissions for the GSP Annual Review must conform to the GSP regulations set forth at 15 CFR part 2007, except as modified below. These regulations are available on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/ trade-development/preferenceprograms/generalized-systempreference-gsp/gsp-program-inf. Any person or party making a submission is strongly advised to review the GSP regulations as well as the GSP Guidebook, which is available at the same link. To make a submission using https:// www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2015–0013 in the ‘‘Search for’’ field 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’’ in the ‘‘Filter Results by’’ section on the left side of the screen and click on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now.’’ The https://www.regulations.gov Web site offers the option of providing comments by filling in a ‘‘Type Comment’’ field or by attaching a document using the PO 00000 Frm 00153 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10357 ‘‘Upload file(s)’’ field. The Subcommittee prefers that submissions be provided in an attached document and, in such cases, that parties note ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field on the online submission form. At the beginning of the submission, or on the first page (if an attachment), please note that the submission is in response to this Federal Register notice and indicate the specific product(s) (including the eight-digit HTSUS subheading) that is the subject of the comment and on which of the relevant lists described above (e.g., List I) it appears. Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 12–point type, including attachments. Any data attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. Each submitter will receive a submission tracking number upon completion of the submissions procedure at https:// www.regulations.gov. The tracking number will be the submitter’s confirmation that the submission was received into https:// www.regulations.gov. The confirmation should be kept for the submitter’s records. USTR is not responsible for any delays in a submission due to technical difficulties, nor is it able to provide any technical assistance for the https:// www.regulations.gov Web site. Documents not submitted in accordance with these instructions may not be considered in this review. If an interested party is unable to provide submissions as requested, please contact the GSP program at USTR to arrange for an alternative method of transmission. Business Confidential Petitions An interested party requesting that information contained in a submission 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. 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. Additionally, ‘‘Business Confidential’’ must be included in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. For any submission containing business confidential information, a non-confidential version must be submitted separately (i.e., not as part of the same submission with the confidential version), indicating where E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1 10358 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 39 / Monday, February 29, 2016 / Notices confidential information has been redacted. The non-confidential version will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Public Viewing of Review Submissions Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors Submissions in response to this notice, except for information granted ‘‘business confidential’’ status under 15 CFR part 2003.6, will be available for public viewing pursuant to 15 CFR part 2007.6 at https://www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing, usually within two weeks of the relevant due date or date of the submission. Public versions of all documents relating to the 2015/2016 Annual Product Review will be made available for public viewing in docket USTR–2015–0013 at www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES IV. Withdrawal of Certain CNL Waiver Petitions In a January 11, 2016 Federal Register notice (see 81 FR 1275), USTR announced the acceptance of CNL waiver petitions for the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review. Following the release of full 2015 calendar year trade data, the following petitioners have withdrawn their CNL waiver petition from the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review because the product imported from the subject GSP beneficiary country did not surpass the CNL thresholds for 2015: • CamelBak Products LLC: HTS 4202.92.04 from the Philippines • Government of Tunisia: HTS 1509.10.40 from Tunisia • Government of Ukraine: HTS 2804.29.00 from Ukraine • Lenox Corporation: HTS 6911.10.37 from Indonesia An updated list of the CNL waiver petitions being considered in the 2015/ 2016 review can be found on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/ preference-programs/generalizedsystem-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/ gsp-20152016 under the title ‘‘Product and CNL Waiver Petitions Accepted for the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review.’’ This list can also be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket Number USTR–2015–0013. William D. Jackson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2016–04301 Filed 2–26–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F6–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Feb 26, 2016 Jkt 238001 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors meeting. AGENCY: Time and Date: The meeting will be held on March 17, 2016, from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. Place: This meeting will be open to the public via conference call. Any interested person may call 1–877–422– 1931, passcode 2855443940, to listen and participate in this meeting. Status: Open to the public. Matters to be considered: The Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors (the Board) will continue its work in developing and implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and to that end, may consider matters properly before the Board. For further information contact: Mr. Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified Carrier Registration Board of Directors at (505) 827–4565. Dated: February 17, 2016. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator, Office of Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. [FR Doc. 2016–04460 Filed 2–25–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [Docket No. FTA–2015–0030] Award Management Requirements: Proposed Circular Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed circular and request for comments. AGENCY: FTA has placed in the docket and on its Web site proposed guidance in the form of proposed FTA Circular, 5010.1E, ‘‘Award Management Requirements,’’ to facilitate implementation of FTA’s assistance programs. The purpose of the proposed circular is to update the current ‘‘Grants Management Requirements’’ circular to reflect various changes in the law, regulations, and FTA’s transition to a SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00154 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 new electronic award and management system. The proposed circular provides guidance regarding the management responsibilities accompanying FTA awards of federal assistance through Grants and Cooperative Agreements. By this notice, FTA seeks public comment on the proposed circular. DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 29, 2016. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments by only one of the following methods, identifying your submission by DOT Docket Number FTA–2015– 0030. All electronic submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic site at https:// www.regulations.gov. Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: 202–493–2251. Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit Administration) and Docket number (FTA–2015–0030) for this notice at the beginning of each submission of your comments. Submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. For confirmation that FTA received your comments, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard. All comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided and will be available to internet users. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or https:// DocketsInfo.dot.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents and comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program matters, contact Pamela A. Brown, FTA Office of Program E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 39 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10356-10358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04301]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


2015/2016 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Product 
Review: Inviting Public Comments on Possible Actions Related to 
Competitive Need Limitations

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of full 2015 calendar 
year import statistics relating to competitive need limitations (CNLs) 
under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The Office 
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will accept public 
comments submitted by April 1, 2016, regarding: (1) Possible de minimis 
CNL waivers; and (2) possible redesignations of articles currently not 
eligible for GSP benefits because they previously exceeded the CNL 
thresholds. This notice also announces the withdrawal by the 
petitioners of certain previously accepted CNL waiver petitions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Larsen, Director for GSP, Office 
of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW., 
Washington DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-2974 and the 
email address is Aimee_B_Larsen@ustr.eop.gov.

DATES:  Public comments are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Statutory Provisions Related to CNLs

    The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of 
designated articles when imported from designated beneficiary 
developing countries (BDCs). The GSP program is authorized by Title V 
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the 
``1974 Act'').
    Section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act sets out the two CNLs. When 
the President determines that a BDC exported to the United States 
during a calendar year either: (1) A quantity of a GSP-eligible article 
having a value in excess of the applicable amount for that year ($170 
million for 2015), or (2) a quantity of a GSP-eligible article having a 
value equal to or greater than 50 percent of the value of total U.S. 
imports of the article from all countries (the ``50 percent'' CNL), the 
President must terminate GSP duty-free treatment for that article from 
that BDC by no later than July 1 of the next calendar year, unless a 
waiver is granted. (Note--as announced in a November 17, 2015, Federal 
Register notice (FRN), petitions for CNL waivers are being considered 
under a separate timeline than that of the actions on CNLs set forth in 
this FRN).
    De minimis waivers: Under section 503(c)(2)(F) of the 1974 Act, the 
President may waive the 50 percent CNL with respect to an eligible 
article imported from a BDC if the value of total imports of that 
article from all countries during the calendar year did not exceed the 
applicable de minimis amount for that year ($22.5 million for 2015).
    Redesignations: Under section 503(c)(2)(C) of the 1974 Act, if 
imports of an eligible article from a BDC ceased to receive duty-free 
treatment due to exceeding a CNL in a prior year, the President may, 
subject to the considerations in sections 501 and 502 of the 1974 Act, 
redesignate such an article for duty-free treatment if imports in the 
most recently completed calendar year did not exceed the CNLs.
    CNL waiver revocation: Under Section 503(d)(5) of the 1974 Act, a 
CNL waiver remains in effect until the President determines that it is 
no longer warranted due to changed circumstances. Section 
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-432, 
also provides that, ``[n]ot later than July 1 of each year, the 
President should revoke any waiver that has then been in effect with 
respect to an article for five years or more if the beneficiary 
developing country has exported to the United States (directly or 
indirectly) during the preceding calendar year a quantity of the 
article--(I) having an appraised value in excess of 1.5 times the 
applicable amount set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) for that 
calendar year ($255 million in 2015); or (II) exceeding 75 percent of 
the appraised value of the total imports of that article into the 
United States during that calendar year.''
    Exclusions from GSP duty-free treatment where CNLs have been 
exceeded will be effective July 1, 2016, unless granted a waiver by the 
President. Any CNL-based exclusions, CNL waiver revocations, and 
decisions with respect to de minimis waivers and

[[Page 10357]]

redesignations will be based on full 2015 calendar year import data.

II. 2015 Import Statistics

    In order to provide notice of articles that have exceeded the CNLs 
for 2015 and to afford an opportunity for comment regarding (1) 
potential de minimis waivers and (2) potential redesignations for 2015, 
USTR has posted product lists on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/preference-programs/generalized-system-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp-20152016 under the title ``2015 Import Statistics 
Relating to Competitive Need Limitations for the Generalized System of 
Preferences.'' These lists can also be found at www.regulations.gov in 
Docket Number USTR-2015-0013. There were no articles that were subject 
to CNL waiver revocation for 2015 based on the provisions of Section 
503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the 1974 Act, as amended by Public Law 109-432. 
Full 2015 calendar year data for individual tariff subheadings may also 
be viewed on the Web site of the U.S. International Trade Commission at 
https://dataweb.usitc.gov.
    The lists available on the USTR Web site contain, for each article, 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 
and BDC country of origin, the value of imports of the article for the 
2015 calendar year, and the percentage of total U.S. imports of that 
article from all countries.
    The lists published on the USTR Web site are for informational 
purposes only. They may not include all articles to which the GSP CNLs 
may apply. All determinations and decisions regarding the CNLs of the 
GSP program will be based on full 2015 calendar year import data with 
respect to each GSP-eligible article. Each interested party is advised 
to conduct its own review of 2015 import data with respect to the 
possible application of the GSP CNL provisions.
    List I on the USTR Web site shows GSP-eligible articles from BDCs 
that exceeded a CNL by having been imported in excess of $170 million, 
or in a quantity equal to or greater than 50 percent of the total U.S. 
import value, in 2015. These products will be removed from eligibility 
for GSP for the subject countries on July 1, 2016, unless the President 
grants a waiver for the product for the subject country in response to 
a petition filed by an interested party. Such petitions for CNL waivers 
must have been previously submitted in the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review. 
(See 80 FR 50376 and 80 FR 71913.) The last column in List I shows 
those products for which petitions have been accepted and are now under 
review.
    List II identifies GSP-eligible articles from BDCs that are above 
the 50 percent CNL, but that are eligible for a de minimis waiver of 
the 50 percent CNL. Articles eligible for de minimis waivers are 
automatically considered in the GSP annual review process, without the 
filing of a petition. List III shows GSP-eligible articles from certain 
BDCs that are currently not receiving GSP duty-free treatment, but that 
may be considered for GSP redesignation based on 2015 trade data and 
consideration of certain statutory factors. Recommendations to the 
President on de minimis waivers and redesignations will be made as part 
of the GSP annual review process, and public comments (including 
comments in support of or in opposition to de minimis waivers and 
redesignations) are invited in accordance with the Requirements for 
Submissions below.

III. Public Comments

Requirements for Submissions

    Written comments submitted in response to this notice must be 
submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016. All 
submissions must be made in English and submitted electronically via 
https://www.regulations.gov, using docket number USTR-2015-0013. Hand-
delivered submissions will not be accepted.
    All submissions for the GSP Annual Review must conform to the GSP 
regulations set forth at 15 CFR part 2007, except as modified below. 
These regulations are available on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-preference-gsp/gsp-program-inf. Any person or party making a 
submission is strongly advised to review the GSP regulations as well as 
the GSP Guidebook, which is available at the same link.
    To make a submission using https://www.regulations.gov, enter docket 
number USTR-2015-0013 in the ``Search for'' field 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'' in the ``Filter 
Results by'' section on the left side of the screen and click on the 
link entitled ``Comment Now.'' The https://www.regulations.gov Web site 
offers the option of providing comments by filling in a ``Type 
Comment'' field or by attaching a document using the ``Upload file(s)'' 
field. The Subcommittee prefers that submissions be provided in an 
attached document and, in such cases, that parties note ``See 
attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field on the online submission form.
    At the beginning of the submission, or on the first page (if an 
attachment), please note that the submission is in response to this 
Federal Register notice and indicate the specific product(s) (including 
the eight-digit HTSUS subheading) that is the subject of the comment 
and on which of the relevant lists described above (e.g., List I) it 
appears. Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard 
letter-size pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Any data 
attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as 
the submission itself, and not as separate files.
    Each submitter will receive a submission tracking number upon 
completion of the submissions procedure at https://www.regulations.gov. 
The tracking number will be the submitter's confirmation that the 
submission was received into https://www.regulations.gov. The 
confirmation should be kept for the submitter's records. USTR is not 
responsible for any delays in a submission due to technical 
difficulties, nor is it able to provide any technical assistance for 
the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. Documents not submitted in 
accordance with these instructions may not be considered in this 
review. If an interested party is unable to provide submissions as 
requested, please contact the GSP program at USTR to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission.

Business Confidential Petitions

    An interested party requesting that information contained in a 
submission 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. 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. 
Additionally, ``Business Confidential'' must be included in the ``Type 
Comment'' field. For any submission containing business confidential 
information, a non-confidential version must be submitted separately 
(i.e., not as part of the same submission with the confidential 
version), indicating where

[[Page 10358]]

confidential information has been redacted. The non-confidential 
version will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection.

Public Viewing of Review Submissions

    Submissions in response to this notice, except for information 
granted ``business confidential'' status under 15 CFR part 2003.6, will 
be available for public viewing pursuant to 15 CFR part 2007.6 at 
https://www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing, usually 
within two weeks of the relevant due date or date of the submission. 
Public versions of all documents relating to the 2015/2016 Annual 
Product Review will be made available for public viewing in docket 
USTR-2015-0013 at www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing.

IV. Withdrawal of Certain CNL Waiver Petitions

    In a January 11, 2016 Federal Register notice (see 81 FR 1275), 
USTR announced the acceptance of CNL waiver petitions for the 2015/2016 
GSP Annual Review. Following the release of full 2015 calendar year 
trade data, the following petitioners have withdrawn their CNL waiver 
petition from the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review because the product 
imported from the subject GSP beneficiary country did not surpass the 
CNL thresholds for 2015:
     CamelBak Products LLC: HTS 4202.92.04 from the Philippines
     Government of Tunisia: HTS 1509.10.40 from Tunisia
     Government of Ukraine: HTS 2804.29.00 from Ukraine
     Lenox Corporation: HTS 6911.10.37 from Indonesia
    An updated list of the CNL waiver petitions being considered in the 
2015/2016 review can be found on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/preference-programs/generalized-system-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp-20152016 under the title ``Product and CNL Waiver 
Petitions Accepted for the 2015/2016 GSP Annual Review.'' This list can 
also be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket Number USTR-2015-0013.

William D. Jackson,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System 
of Preferences, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2016-04301 Filed 2-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F6-P
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