Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments, 40471-40472 [2019-17392]

Download as PDF jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2019 / Notices submission is Friday, September 27, 2019 at midnight EST. 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 website. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2019–0011 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 website, please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on ‘‘How to Use Regulations.gov’’ on the bottom of the home page. The www.regulations.gov website 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 you provide comments 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. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. 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 also must 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. 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, USTR strongly urges that you file submissions through www.regulations.gov. You must make VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Aug 13, 2019 Jkt 247001 any alternative arrangements with Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475 before transmitting a comment and in advance of the relevant deadline. We will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except business confidential information. You can view comments on the https:// www.regulations.gov website by entering docket number USTR–2019– 0011 in the search field on the home page. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Edward Gresser, Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2019–17393 Filed 8–13–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F9–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2019–0010] Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China’s Compliance With WTO Commitments Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of public hearing and request for comments. AGENCY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites interested persons to submit written comments and participate in a public hearing 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: September 18, 2019 at midnight EDT: Deadline for submission of comments, and requests to appear and summaries of testimony at the October 2, 2019 public hearing. October 2, 2019: The TPSC will convene a public hearing in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington DC 20508, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. The instructions for submitting notification of intent to testify and/or written comments are in sections 3 and 4 below. The docket number is USTR–2019–0010. For alternatives to on-line submissions, contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395– 3475 before transmitting a comment and in advance of the relevant deadline. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475 for SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40471 procedural questions concerning written comments or participation in the public hearing. Direct all other questions to Terrence J. McCartin, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Affairs, 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 soliciting public comments. You can find last year’s report on USTR’s website at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2018USTR-Report-to-Congress-onChina%27s-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. You can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO website at 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. Topics on Which the TPSC Seeks Information The TPSC 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. E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1 40472 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2019 / Notices G. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform. 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. jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 3. Notice of Public Hearing The TPSC will hold a hearing on October 2, 2019, beginning at 9:30 a.m., to receive information regarding China’s compliance with WTO commitments. The hearing will be held in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20508, and will be open to the public and to the press. A transcript of the hearing will be available on www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks after the date of the hearing. All interested parties wishing to make an oral presentation at the hearing must submit, following the Requirements for Submissions below, the name, address, telephone number, and email address, if available, of the witness(es) representing their organization no later than midnight on September 18, 2019. Requests to present oral testimony must be accompanied by a written summary of the proposed testimony, in English. The TPSC will limit oral testimony to five-minute presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in briefs or statements submitted for the record to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. 4. Requirements for Submissions In order to be assured of consideration, we must receive your notification of intent to testify and/or written comments in English by 11:59 p.m. on September 18, 2019. USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using www.regulations.gov. On the first page, please identify the submission as ‘‘China’s WTO Compliance.’’ To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2019–0010 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 website, please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on ‘‘How to Use VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:56 Aug 13, 2019 Jkt 247001 Regulations.gov’’ on the bottom of the home page. USTR will not accept handdelivered submissions. The www.regulations.gov website allows users to submit comments by filling in a ‘‘type comment’’ field or by attaching a document using an ‘‘upload file’’ field. USTR prefers that you submit comments in an attached document. If you attach a document, it is sufficient to type ‘‘see attached’’ in the ‘‘type comment’’ field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ‘‘type comment’’ field. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. 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 also must submit a public version of their comments that we will place in the docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and ‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. 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, USTR strongly urges you to file submissions through www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475 before transmitting a comment and in advance of the relevant deadline. USTR will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except business confidential information. You can view comments on the https:// www.regulations.gov website by entering docket number USTR–2019– 0010 in the search field on the home PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 page. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Edward Gresser, Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2019–17392 Filed 8–13–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F9–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Summary Notice No. FAA–2019–40] Petition for Exemption; Summary of Petition Received; Aurora Flight Sciences Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public’s awareness of, and participation in, the FAA’s exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition. DATES: Comments on this petition must identify the petition docket number and must be received on or before September 3, 2019. ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA–2019–0172 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. • Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493–2251. Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40471-40472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17392]


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

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2019-0010]


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

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites 
interested persons to submit written comments and participate in a 
public hearing 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: September 18, 2019 at midnight EDT: Deadline for submission of 
comments, and requests to appear and summaries of testimony at the 
October 2, 2019 public hearing. October 2, 2019: The TPSC will convene 
a public hearing in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington DC 
20508, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. The 
instructions for submitting notification of intent to testify and/or 
written comments are in sections 3 and 4 below. The docket number is 
USTR-2019-0010. For alternatives to on-line submissions, contact Yvonne 
Jamison at (202) 395-3475 before transmitting a comment and in advance 
of the relevant deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475 for 
procedural questions concerning written comments or participation in 
the public hearing. Direct all other questions to Terrence J. McCartin, 
Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Affairs, 
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 soliciting public comments. 
You can find last year's report on USTR's website at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2018-USTR-Report-to-Congress-on-China%27s-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. You 
can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO website at 
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. Topics on Which the TPSC Seeks Information

    The TPSC 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.

[[Page 40472]]

    G. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform 
administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform.
    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.

3. Notice of Public Hearing

    The TPSC will hold a hearing on October 2, 2019, beginning at 9:30 
a.m., to receive information regarding China's compliance with WTO 
commitments. The hearing will be held in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street 
NW, Washington, DC 20508, and will be open to the public and to the 
press. A transcript of the hearing will be available on 
www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks after the date of 
the hearing. All interested parties wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the hearing must submit, following the Requirements for 
Submissions below, the name, address, telephone number, and email 
address, if available, of the witness(es) representing their 
organization no later than midnight on September 18, 2019. Requests to 
present oral testimony must be accompanied by a written summary of the 
proposed testimony, in English. The TPSC will limit oral testimony to 
five-minute presentations that summarize or supplement information 
contained in briefs or statements submitted for the record to allow for 
possible questions from the TPSC.

4. Requirements for Submissions

    In order to be assured of consideration, we must receive your 
notification of intent to testify and/or written comments in English by 
11:59 p.m. on September 18, 2019. USTR strongly encourages commenters 
to make on-line submissions, using www.regulations.gov. On the first 
page, please identify the submission as ``China's WTO Compliance.''
    To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number 
USTR-2019-0010 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 website, please consult the resources provided on 
the website by clicking on ``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom 
of the home page. USTR will not accept hand-delivered submissions.
    The www.regulations.gov website allows users to submit comments by 
filling in a ``type comment'' field or by attaching a document using an 
``upload file'' field. USTR prefers that you submit comments in an 
attached document. If you attach a document, it is sufficient to type 
``see attached'' in the ``type comment'' field. USTR prefers 
submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you 
use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of 
the application in the ``type comment'' field.
    Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential 
information should name their file using the name of the person or 
entity submitting the comments. 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 also must submit a public version of their comments that we 
will place in the docket for public inspection. The file name of the 
public version should begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and 
``P'' should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting 
the comments.
    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, USTR strongly urges you to file submissions through 
www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with 
Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475 before transmitting a comment and in 
advance of the relevant deadline.
    USTR will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except 
business confidential information. You can view comments on the https://www.regulations.gov website by entering docket number USTR-2019-0010 
in the search field on the home page. General information concerning 
USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.

Edward Gresser,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-17392 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F9-P
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