Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice Regarding a Hearing for Country Practice Reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and for the Country Designation Review of Laos, 63955-63957 [2019-24947]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2019 / Notices TECNOTEX—Empresa Cubana Exportadora e Importadora de Servicios, Artı´culos y Productos Te´cnicos Especializados TGF—Tropas de Guardafronteras UAM—Unio´n Agropecuaria Militar ULAEX—Unio´n Latinoamericana de Explosivos XETID—Empresa de Tecnologı´as de la Informacio´n Para La Defensa YABO—Empresa Militar Industrial Coronel Francisco Aguiar Rodrı´guez Additional Subentities of CIMEX ADESA/ASAT—Agencia Servicios Aduanales (Customs Services) Cachito (Beverage Manufacturer) Contex (Fashion) Datacimex ECUSE—Empresa Cubana de Servicios Inmobiliaria CIMEX (Real Estate) Inversiones CIMEX Jupin˜a (Beverage Manufacturer) La Maiso´n (Fashion) Najita (Beverage Manufacturer) Publicitaria Imagen (Advertising) Residencial Tarara S.A. (Real Estate/ Property Rental) Effective November 15, 2018 Ron Caney (Rum Production) Ron Varadero (Rum Production) Telecable (Satellite Television) Tropicola (Beverage Manufacturer) Zona Especializada de Logı´stica y Comercio (ZELCOM) khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Additional Subentities of GAESA Aerogaviota Effective April 24, 2019 Almacenes Universales (AUSA) ANTEX—Corporacio´n Antillana Exportadora Compan˜ı´a Inmobiliaria Aurea S.A. Effective November 15, 2018 Direccio´n Integrada Proyecto Mariel (DIP) Empresa Inmobiliaria Almest (Real Estate) GRAFOS (Advertising) RAFIN S.A. (Financial Services) Sociedad Mercantin Inmobiliaria Caribe (Real Estate) TECNOIMPORT Terminal de Contenedores de la Habana (TCH) Terminal de Contenedores de Mariel, S.A. UCM—Unio´n de Construcciones Militares Zona Especial de Desarrollo Mariel (ZEDM) Zona Especial de Desarrollo y Actividades Logı´sticas (ZEDAL) Additional Subentities of Gaviota AT Comercial Diving Center—Marina Gaviota Effective April 24, 2019 Gaviota Hoteles Cuba Effective March 12, 2019 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Nov 18, 2019 Jkt 250001 Hoteles Habaguanex Effective March 12, 2019 Hoteles Playa Gaviota Effective March 12, 2019 Manzana de Gomez Marinas Gaviota Cuba Effective March 12, 2019 PhotoService Plaza La Estrella Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Las Dunas Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Las Morlas Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Las Salinas Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Las Terrazas del Atardecer Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Los Flamencos Effective November 15, 2018 Plaza Pesquero Effective November 15, 2018 Producciones TRIMAGEN S.A. (Tiendas Trimagen) Additional Subentities of Habaguanex Sociedad Mercantil Cubana Inmobiliaria Fenix S.A. (Real Estate) * *Activities in parentheticals are intended to aid in identification but are only representative. All activities of listed entities and subentities are subject to the applicable prohibitions.* * David Meale, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2019–25066 Filed 11–18–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P Representative, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Military Postal Service Agency, and the United States Postal Service. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Shereece Robinson of the Office of Specialized and Technical Agencies (IO/STA), Bureau of International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at tel. (202) 663–2649, by email at RobinsonSA2@state.gov or by mail at IO/STA, L409 (SA1); Department of State, 2401 E Street NW; Washington, DC 20037. Stephen P. Newhouse, Designated Federal Officer, Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2019–25052 Filed 11–18–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–19–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice Regarding a Hearing for Country Practice Reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and for the Country Designation Review of Laos Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of public hearing and request for comments. AGENCY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is announcing a hearing for the GSP country practice reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country designation review of Laos. These reviews will focus on whether: (1) Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are meeting the GSP eligibility criterion requiring that a GSP beneficiary country afford workers in that country internationally recognized worker rights; (2) Ecuador is meeting the GSP eligibility criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to act in good faith in recognizing as binding or in enforcing applicable arbitral awards; (3) Indonesia and South Africa are meeting the GSP eligibility criterion requiring adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights; (4) Indonesia and Thailand are meeting the GSP eligibility criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets and basic commodity resources; and (5) Laos meets all of the GSP eligibility criteria SUMMARY: DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 10949] Notice of Charter Renewal of the Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services (IPoDS) This notice announces the renewal of the charter or the Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services (IPODS). In accordance with the provisions of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 109–435) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 463), the Committee’s charter has been extended until November 14, 2021. The Department of State uses the IPODS Committee to remain informed of the interests of users and providers of international postal and delivery services. The Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs appoints members of the committee, including representatives of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the United States Trade PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63955 E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 63956 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2019 / Notices and should be newly designated as a GSP beneficiary country. This notice includes the schedule for submission of public comments and a public hearing. DATES: January 17, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST: Deadline for submission of comments, pre-hearing briefs, and requests to appear at the January 30, 2020, public hearing. January 30, 2020: The GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing on the GSP country practice reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country designation review of Laos, in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20508, beginning at 10:00 a.m. USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov, using the docket number for the appropriate country listed in sections B and C. All submission must be in English. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in sections D through F. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Claudia Chlebek at 202– 395–2974, or gsp@ustr.eop.gov. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Claudia Chlebek at 202– 395–2974, or gsp@ustr.eop.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of designated articles when imported from designated beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461– 2467), as amended, and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations. B. Ongoing Country Practice Reviews of Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan, and the Ongoing Country Designation Review of Laos The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will hold a hearing on January 30, 2020, for the following country practice reviews: Country Basis for petition Petitioner Ecuador ........................................... Georgia ............................................ Indonesia ......................................... Arbitral Awards ............................... Worker Rights ................................. Intellectual Property Rights ............. Indonesia ......................................... Kazakhstan ...................................... Laos ................................................. Thailand ........................................... Uzbekistan ....................................... Market Access ................................ Worker Rights ................................. Eligibility .......................................... Market Access ................................ Worker Rights & Child Labor .......... Chevron Corporation ...................... AFL–CIO ......................................... International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). USTR .............................................. AFL–CIO ......................................... Laos ................................................ National Pork Producers Council ... ILRF ................................................ C. Initiation of Country Practice Reviews of Azerbaijan and South Africa reviews are undertaken on the recommendation of the TPSC pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(f) to determine if the current laws and practices of Azerbaijan and South Africa meet the GSP eligibility criteria. These reviews are the result of country eligibility petitions USTR will initiate the country practice reviews of Azerbaijan and South Africa. These country practice Docket No. Basis for petition Petitioner Azerbaijan ....................................... South Africa ..................................... Worker Rights ................................. Intellectual Property Rights ............. USTR .............................................. IIPA ................................................. The country practice review of Azerbaijan will focus on whether the country is meeting the GSP criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to take steps to afford workers in that country internationally recognized worker rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(7)). The GSP Subcommittee has identified several potential concerns regarding Azerbaijan’s compliance with the GSP worker rights criterion including, but not limited to, restrictions on freedom of association and a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms to protect worker rights. Among other concerns, worker organizations in Azerbaijan reportedly face government interference VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Nov 18, 2019 Jkt 250001 and severe restrictions on labor inspections limit the ability of workers to exercise internationally recognized worker rights. 2. South Africa Country Practice Review The country practice review of South Africa will focus on whether the country is meeting the GSP criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(5)). USTR has accepted a petition filed by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). The petition alleges that the Government of South Africa does not provide adequate and effective PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 USTR–2013–0013 USTR–2013–0009 USTR–2013–0011 USTR–2018–0007 USTR–2013–0011 USTR–2013–0021 USTR–2018–0012 USTR–2013–0007 submitted by interested stakeholders and an assessment of GSP beneficiary countries conducted by the GSP Subcommittee. The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will hold a hearing on January 30, 2020, for the following country practice reviews: Country 1. Azerbaijan Country Practice Review khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES February 28, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST: Deadline for submission of post-hearing briefs. Docket No. USTR–2019–0021 USTR–2019–0020 copyright protection for U.S. copyrighted works. D. Notice of Public Hearing The GSP Subcommittee will hold a hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. on January 30, 2020, to receive information regarding the GSP country practice reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country designation review of Laos. 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. USTR will make a transcript of the hearing available on www.regulations.gov approximately two weeks after the hearing date. E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2019 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES USTR must receive your written requests to make an oral presentation at the hearing and pre-hearing briefs, statements, or comments by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 17, 2020. You must make the intent to testify notification in the ‘‘type comment’’ field under the docket number for the appropriate country listed in sections B and C above on the www.regulations.gov website and you should include the name, address, telephone number and email address, if available, of the person presenting the testimony. You must attach a written brief or summary statement in English by using the ‘‘upload file’’ field. The name of the file also should include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing will be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for questions from the Subcommittee. The GSP Subcommittee will accept post-hearing briefs or statements if they conform to the requirements set out below and are submitted in English, by 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2020. You should submit all documents in accordance with the instructions in section E below. Parties not wishing to appear at the public hearing may submit pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs or comments by the relevant deadlines. E. Requirements for Submissions You must submit requests to testify, written comments, and pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs by the applicable deadlines set forth in this notice. You must make all submissions in English via https://www.regulations.gov, using the docket number for the appropriate country listed in sections B and C above. USTR will not accept handdelivered submissions. To make a submission using https:// www.regulations.gov, enter the appropriate docket number 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 regulations.gov website 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 you provide submissions in an attached document and 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) include the following text (in BOLD and underlined) (1) ‘‘[Insert Country] VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Nov 18, 2019 Jkt 250001 Country Practice Review’’; (2) the subject matter; and (3) whether the document is a ‘written comment,’ ‘notice of intent to testify,’ ‘pre-hearing brief,’ or ‘post-hearing brief.’ Submissions should not exceed thirty single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in twelve-point type, including attachments. Include any data attachments to the submission in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the submission procedure at https:// www.regulations.gov. The tracking number is confirmation that regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical assistance for the website. USTR may not consider documents you do not submit in accordance with these instructions. If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please contact Claudia Chlebek at 202– 395–2974, or gsp@ustr.eop.gov to arrange for an alternative method of transmission. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. F. Business Confidential Submissions If you ask USTR to treat information you submitted as business confidential information (BCI), you must certify that the information is business confidential and that you would not customarily release it to the public. You must clearly designate BCI by marking the submission ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and indicating, via brackets, the specific information that is BCI. Additionally, you must include ‘Business Confidential’ in the ‘type comment’ field. For any submission containing BCI, you must separately submit a non-confidential version, i.e., not as part of the same submission with the confidential version, indicating where BCI has been redacted. USTR will post the non-confidential version in the docket and it will be open to public inspection. G. Public Viewing of Review Submissions USTR will make public versions of all documents relating to these reviews available for public viewing pursuant to 15 CFR 2017.4, in the appropriate docket at https://www.regulations.gov upon completion of processing, usually PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63957 within two weeks of the relevant due date or date of the submission. Erland Herfindahl, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2019–24947 Filed 11–18–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F0–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in City of Salem, Marion County, Oregon Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA. AGENCY: This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Salem River Crossing Project, over the Willamette River, in City of Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Those actions grant approvals for the project. DATES: By this notice, FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before April 17, 2020. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 150 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Cline, Environmental Program Manager, FHWA Oregon Division Office, 530 Center St. NE, Salem, OR 97301, Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Office Phone: 503–316–2547, Email: Emily.cline@dot.gov. You may also contact Anna Henson, Senior Project Leader, ODOT Region 2, 455 Airport Road SE, Building B, Salem, OR 97301, Office Phone: 503–986–2639, Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Email: Anna.Henson@odot.state.or.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that FHWA has taken final agency action subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing approvals for the following highway project in the State of Oregon. The Salem River Crossing Project proposed to construct a proposed new third bridge crossing of the Willamette River in Salem, Oregon, along with associated surface street improvements. The purpose of the project is to improve mobility and safety SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63955-63957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24947]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice Regarding a 
Hearing for Country Practice Reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, 
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and for 
the Country Designation Review of Laos

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
announcing a hearing for the GSP country practice reviews of 
Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South 
Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country designation review of Laos. 
These reviews will focus on whether: (1) Azerbaijan, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are meeting the GSP eligibility criterion 
requiring that a GSP beneficiary country afford workers in that country 
internationally recognized worker rights; (2) Ecuador is meeting the 
GSP eligibility criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to act in 
good faith in recognizing as binding or in enforcing applicable 
arbitral awards; (3) Indonesia and South Africa are meeting the GSP 
eligibility criterion requiring adequate and effective protection of 
intellectual property rights; (4) Indonesia and Thailand are meeting 
the GSP eligibility criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary country to 
provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets and basic 
commodity resources; and (5) Laos meets all of the GSP eligibility 
criteria

[[Page 63956]]

and should be newly designated as a GSP beneficiary country. This 
notice includes the schedule for submission of public comments and a 
public hearing.

DATES: 
    January 17, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST: Deadline for submission of 
comments, pre-hearing briefs, and requests to appear at the January 30, 
2020, public hearing.
    January 30, 2020: The GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing on the GSP country 
practice reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, 
Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country 
designation review of Laos, in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20508, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
    February 28, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST: Deadline for submission of 
post-hearing briefs.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, using the 
docket number for the appropriate country listed in sections B and C. 
All submission must be in English. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments in sections D through F. For alternatives to on-
line submissions, please contact Claudia Chlebek at 202-395-2974, or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Claudia Chlebek at 202-
395-2974, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of 
designated articles when imported from designated beneficiary 
developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461-2467), as amended, and is implemented 
in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as 
modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.

B. Ongoing Country Practice Reviews of Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, 
Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan, and the Ongoing Country 
Designation Review of Laos

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will hold a hearing on January 30, 
2020, for the following country practice reviews:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Country              Basis for petition      Petitioner                     Docket No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ecuador........................  Arbitral Awards...  Chevron             USTR-2013-0013
                                                      Corporation.
Georgia........................  Worker Rights.....  AFL-CIO...........  USTR-2013-0009
Indonesia......................  Intellectual        International       USTR-2013-0011
                                  Property Rights.    Intellectual
                                                      Property Alliance
                                                      (IIPA).
Indonesia......................  Market Access.....  USTR..............  USTR-2018-0007
Kazakhstan.....................  Worker Rights.....  AFL-CIO...........  USTR-2013-0011
Laos...........................  Eligibility.......  Laos..............  USTR-2013-0021
Thailand.......................  Market Access.....  National Pork       USTR-2018-0012
                                                      Producers Council.
Uzbekistan.....................  Worker Rights &     ILRF..............  USTR-2013-0007
                                  Child Labor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Initiation of Country Practice Reviews of Azerbaijan and South 
Africa

    USTR will initiate the country practice reviews of Azerbaijan and 
South Africa. These country practice reviews are undertaken on the 
recommendation of the TPSC pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(f) to determine if 
the current laws and practices of Azerbaijan and South Africa meet the 
GSP eligibility criteria. These reviews are the result of country 
eligibility petitions submitted by interested stakeholders and an 
assessment of GSP beneficiary countries conducted by the GSP 
Subcommittee. The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC will hold a hearing on 
January 30, 2020, for the following country practice reviews:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Country              Basis for petition      Petitioner                     Docket No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Azerbaijan.....................  Worker Rights.....  USTR..............  USTR-2019-0021
South Africa...................  Intellectual        IIPA..............  USTR-2019-0020
                                  Property Rights.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Azerbaijan Country Practice Review

    The country practice review of Azerbaijan will focus on whether the 
country is meeting the GSP criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary 
country to take steps to afford workers in that country internationally 
recognized worker rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(7)). The GSP Subcommittee 
has identified several potential concerns regarding Azerbaijan's 
compliance with the GSP worker rights criterion including, but not 
limited to, restrictions on freedom of association and a lack of 
effective enforcement mechanisms to protect worker rights. Among other 
concerns, worker organizations in Azerbaijan reportedly face government 
interference and severe restrictions on labor inspections limit the 
ability of workers to exercise internationally recognized worker 
rights.

2. South Africa Country Practice Review

    The country practice review of South Africa will focus on whether 
the country is meeting the GSP criterion requiring a GSP beneficiary 
country to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual 
property rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(5)). USTR has accepted a petition 
filed by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). The 
petition alleges that the Government of South Africa does not provide 
adequate and effective copyright protection for U.S. copyrighted works.

D. Notice of Public Hearing

    The GSP Subcommittee will hold a hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 
January 30, 2020, to receive information regarding the GSP country 
practice reviews of Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, 
Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and the country 
designation review of Laos. 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. USTR will make a transcript of the hearing available 
on www.regulations.gov approximately two weeks after the hearing date.

[[Page 63957]]

    USTR must receive your written requests to make an oral 
presentation at the hearing and pre-hearing briefs, statements, or 
comments by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 17, 2020. You must make the 
intent to testify notification in the ``type comment'' field under the 
docket number for the appropriate country listed in sections B and C 
above on the www.regulations.gov website and you should include the 
name, address, telephone number and email address, if available, of the 
person presenting the testimony. You must attach a written brief or 
summary statement in English by using the ``upload file'' field. The 
name of the file also should include who will be presenting the 
testimony. Remarks at the hearing will be limited to no more than five 
minutes to allow for questions from the Subcommittee. The GSP 
Subcommittee will accept post-hearing briefs or statements if they 
conform to the requirements set out below and are submitted in English, 
by 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2020. You should submit all documents in 
accordance with the instructions in section E below. Parties not 
wishing to appear at the public hearing may submit pre-hearing and 
post-hearing briefs or comments by the relevant deadlines.

E. Requirements for Submissions

    You must submit requests to testify, written comments, and pre-
hearing and post-hearing briefs by the applicable deadlines set forth 
in this notice. You must make all submissions in English via https://www.regulations.gov, using the docket number for the appropriate 
country listed in sections B and C above. USTR will not accept hand-
delivered submissions. To make a submission using https://www.regulations.gov, enter the appropriate docket number 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 regulations.gov 
website 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 you provide submissions in an 
attached document and 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) include the following text (in bold and underlined) (1) 
``[Insert Country] Country Practice Review''; (2) the subject matter; 
and (3) whether the document is a `written comment,' `notice of intent 
to testify,' `pre-hearing brief,' or `post-hearing brief.' Submissions 
should not exceed thirty single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 
twelve-point type, including attachments. Include any data attachments 
to the submission in the same file as the submission itself, and not as 
separate files.
    You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the 
submission procedure at https://www.regulations.gov. The tracking number 
is confirmation that regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the 
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical 
assistance for the website. USTR may not consider documents you do not 
submit in accordance with these instructions. If you are unable to 
provide submissions as requested, please contact Claudia Chlebek at 
202-395-2974, or [email protected] to arrange for an alternative method 
of transmission. General information concerning USTR is available at 
www.ustr.gov.

F. Business Confidential Submissions

    If you ask USTR to treat information you submitted as business 
confidential information (BCI), you must certify that the information 
is business confidential and that you would not customarily release it 
to the public. You must clearly designate BCI by marking the submission 
``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and 
each succeeding page, and indicating, via brackets, the specific 
information that is BCI. Additionally, you must include `Business 
Confidential' in the `type comment' field. For any submission 
containing BCI, you must separately submit a non-confidential version, 
i.e., not as part of the same submission with the confidential version, 
indicating where BCI has been redacted. USTR will post the non-
confidential version in the docket and it will be open to public 
inspection.

G. Public Viewing of Review Submissions

    USTR will make public versions of all documents relating to these 
reviews available for public viewing pursuant to 15 CFR 2017.4, in the 
appropriate docket at https://www.regulations.gov upon completion of 
processing, usually within two weeks of the relevant due date or date 
of the submission.

Erland Herfindahl,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System 
of Preferences, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-24947 Filed 11-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P


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