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]
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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
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12, 2019
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Hoteles Habaguanex Effective March 12,
2019
Hoteles Playa Gaviota Effective March
12, 2019
Manzana de Gomez
Marinas Gaviota Cuba Effective March
12, 2019
PhotoService
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* *Activities in parentheticals are
intended to aid in identification but are
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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
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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
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16:47 Nov 18, 2019
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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
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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
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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]
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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
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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
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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]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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