Results of the 2019 Annual Generalized System of Preferences Review, 64180-64181 [2019-25095]

Download as PDF 64180 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2019 / Notices SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Evaluation Division began development of an enhanced performance monitoring system to enable ECA leadership, program offices, and award recipients to better assess program performance and respond quickly to requests for information. The Evaluation Division would like to ascertain insights from current and potential award recipients as to what indicators should be considered, and any data collection questions that could be particularly useful in measuring the outcomes of exchange programs. Please note that participation in this initiative is voluntary and will not impact current awards or future selection or funding decisions. For those who would like to offer input for the initiative but do not register in time or are unable to attend a FGD, ideas for possible indicators and/ or data collection questions may be submitted via email to ecaevaluation@ state.gov through Friday, December 20th. Aleisha Woodward, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2019–25134 Filed 11–19–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2019–0001] Results of the 2019 Annual Generalized System of Preferences Review Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is announcing the results of the 2019 annual Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) review with respect to: Products considered for removal from the list of eligible products for certain beneficiary countries; decisions related to competitive need limitations (CNLs), including petitions for waivers of CNLs; and requests to reinstate/ redesignate products previously excluded from GSP eligibility for certain countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claudia Chlebek, Director for GSP at (202) 395–2974 or claudia.m.chlebek@ ustr.eop.gov. SUMMARY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:21 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 250001 A. Background The GSP program provides for the duty-free treatment of designated articles when imported from beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), as amended, and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations. Each year, USTR leads the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) in reviewing the list of products eligible for GSP benefits and, after completing this process, which includes public hearings, provides recommendations to the President on appropriate actions based on statutory criteria, including exclusions from duty-free treatment of products from certain countries when they have reached the statutory CNL thresholds. The GSP statute (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(2)) establishes CNLs as a basis for withdrawing duty-free treatment. The statute provides that when the President determines that a GSP beneficiary has exported to the United States during any calendar year a quantity of an eligible article that either is (1) greater than a specified amount ($185 million for 2018), or (2) exceeds 50 percent of the appraised value of the total U.S. imports of that article, the President ‘‘shall, not later than November 1 of the next calendar year, terminate the duty-free treatment for that article’’ from that beneficiary, unless a waiver is granted.1 Under 19 U.S.C. 2463(d), the President may waive either CNL if, before November 1 of the calendar year following the year in which imports exceeded CNLs, the President (1) receives advice from the U.S. International Trade Commission on whether any industry in the United States is ‘‘likely to be adversely affected by such waiver’’; (2) determines, based on certain statutory considerations,2 that such a waiver is in the national economic interest; and (3) publishes that determination in the Federal Register. The statute further provides in 19 U.S.C. 2363(c)(2)(F) that the President may disregard the 50 percent CNL if total imports of an article did not exceed a de minimis amount ($24 million in 2018), or if the product was 1 CNLs do not apply to least-developed or subSaharan African beneficiary countries (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(2)(D)). 2 These include the general statutory considerations for granting duty-free treatment for any article from any beneficiary under 19 U.S.C. 2461, as well as the country eligibility criteria set forth in 19 U.S.C. 2462(c). PO 00000 Frm 00143 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 not produced in the United States in any of the three preceding calendar years. B. Results of the 2019 Annual GSP Review In the 2019 annual GSP review, the TPSC reviewed (1) petitions to remove the GSP eligibility of 2 products; (2) 3 petitions to redesignate products previously excluded from GSP eligibility for certain beneficiary countries; (3) petitions to waive CNLs for 2 products from beneficiary countries; and (4) 27 products eligible for 1 year de minimis waivers of CNLs. Presidential Proclamation 9955 of October 25, 2019, implements the President’s decisions regarding the 2019 annual GSP review, including CNL waivers and product redesignations. These modifications to the GSP program, implemented by Presidential Proclamation 9955, became effective on November 1, 2019. This notice provides a summary of the results of the 2019 annual GSP review. You also can view the results, comprising five lists, at https://www.regulations.gov using docket number USTR–2019–0001, under ‘‘Supporting and Related Materials’’ and on the USTR website at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/ gsp/Results_of_the_2019_GSP_Annual_ Product_Review.pdf. As described in List I, the President denied the two petitions to remove Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) resin (HTS 3907.61.00 and HTS 3907.69.00) from GSP eligibility for Pakistan. Qualifying products from Pakistan will continue to enter the United States duty-free. As described in List II, the President granted a petition to redesignate freshcut orchids (HTS 0603.13.00) from Thailand to GSP. In addition, the President granted a petition to redesignate bamboo plywood (HTS 4412.10.05) and certain tropical hardwood plywood (HTS 4412.31.4155 (pre-November 1, 2019) and HTS 4412.31.45 (post November 1, 2019)) from Indonesia to GSP. Qualifying products, therefore, now enter the United States duty-free. As described in List III, one product from North Macedonia exceeded the CNLs, for which no petition was received, and now enters the United States at the NTR duty rate. This product is motor vehicles with diesel engine for 16 or more passengers (HTS 8702.10.31). As described in List IV, the President granted a petition for a CNL waiver for plastic spectacle lenses (HTS 9001.50.00) from Thailand; qualifying products will continue to enter the E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2019 / Notices United States duty-free. The President denied a petition for a CNL waiver for stearic acid (HTS 3823.11.00) from Indonesia. Therefore, the product is subject to the NTR duty rate. As described in List V, the President granted one-year de minimis waivers to 27 products that exceeded the 50percent import-share CNL but for which the aggregate value of all U.S. imports of that article was below the 2018 de minimis level of $24 million. Qualifying products will continue to enter the United States duty-free. Erland Herfindahl, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2019–25095 Filed 11–19–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F0–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. 2019–0640] Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Air Taxi and Commercial Operator Airport Activity Survey Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves requesting that small on-demand operators voluntarily provide the number of revenue passengers that boarded their aircraft at each airport annually. This information is used in determining an airport’s category and eligibility for federal funding on an annual basis. It is not available through any other federal data source. The 60day FRN was published on August 16, 2019. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 20, 2019. ADDRESSES: Please send written comments: By electronic docket: www.regulations.gov (2019–0640). By mail: Luis Loarte, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:21 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 250001 By fax: 202–267–5257. Luis Loarte by email at: Luis.Loarte@faa.gov; phone: 202–267–9622. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for FAA’s performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection. OMB Control Number: 2120–0067. Title: Air Taxi and Commercial Operator Airport Activity Survey. Form Numbers: FAA Form 1800–31. Type of Review: Clearance of a renewal of an information collection. Background: The data collected through this survey is the only source of data for charter and nonscheduled passenger data by Part 135 operator (air taxis). The data received on the form (either paper or signed electronic copy) is then incorporated into the Air Carrier Activity Information System which is used to determine whether an airport is eligible for Airport Improvement Program funds and for calculating primary airport sponsor apportionment as specified by title 49 United Stated Code (U.S.C.), section 47114. The data collected on the form includes passenger enplanements by carrier and by airport. Passengers traveling on air taxis would be overlooked entirely if this passenger survey were not conducted. As a result, many airports would not receive their fair share of funds since there is currently no other source for this type of charter activity. On average, approximately 100 operators respond each year, reporting a total 1.1 million passengers. This data is important to those airports that struggle to meet the 2,500 and 10,000 passenger levels and could not do so without the reporting of the charter passengers. The 60-day FRN was published on August 16, 2019 under FRN document citation number 2019–0640. Respondents: The voluntary survey is sent through the U.S. Postal Service to approximately 190 small on-demand operators (certificated under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135) that have reported activity in the last three years. The form is also available on the FAA website. Beginning with the calendar year 2019 data, operators will be able to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00144 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64181 access the form, electronically sign and submit it to the FAA. Frequency: Annually. Estimated Average Burden per Response: 1.5 hours per respondent. Estimated Total Annual Burden: On average, approximately 100 respondents submit an annual response. The cumulative total annual burden is estimated to be 150 hours. Issued in Washington, DC, on November 14, 2019. Luis Loarte, Senior Airport Planner, Office of Airports/ Airport Planning and Environmental Division. [FR Doc. 2019–25087 Filed 11–19–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2016–0086] Petition for Waiver of Compliance Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that on October 3, 2019, CSX Transportation (CSX) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 232, Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment, and 49 CFR part 229, Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA–2016–0086. Specifically, CSX seeks relief with respect to the application of 49 CFR 232.205(c)(1)(iii), Leakage test, and § 229.29(b), Air brake system calibration, maintenance, and testing, for the calibration of locomotive air flow method (AFM) indicators. CSX requests to become a full test member of the existing FRA–2016–0086 test waiver (joining BNSF Railway), under the same conditions as BNSF, for testing 1,264 of CSX’s New York Air Brake (NYAB) CCB II equipped locomotives (see FRA– 2016–0086–0006) to investigate whether the interval for calibration may be safely extended to 184 days. CSX also requests to form a test team operating under the current FRA–2016–0086 test committee to test all 440 CSX Wabtec Fastbrakeequipped locomotives. CSX has been an active member of the FRA–2016–0086 test committee since its inception and is familiar with the work performed to date by this committee. On August 29, 2019, the test committee extended a consensus recommendation for CSX to join the waiver as a testing member to E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64180-64181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25095]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2019-0001]


Results of the 2019 Annual Generalized System of Preferences 
Review

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
announcing the results of the 2019 annual Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) review with respect to: Products considered for 
removal from the list of eligible products for certain beneficiary 
countries; decisions related to competitive need limitations (CNLs), 
including petitions for waivers of CNLs; and requests to reinstate/
redesignate products previously excluded from GSP eligibility for 
certain countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claudia Chlebek, Director for GSP at 
(202) 395-2974 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    The GSP program provides for the duty-free treatment of designated 
articles when imported from beneficiary developing countries. The GSP 
program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.), as amended, and is implemented in accordance with 
Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent 
Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.
    Each year, USTR leads the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee 
(TPSC) in reviewing the list of products eligible for GSP benefits and, 
after completing this process, which includes public hearings, provides 
recommendations to the President on appropriate actions based on 
statutory criteria, including exclusions from duty-free treatment of 
products from certain countries when they have reached the statutory 
CNL thresholds.
    The GSP statute (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(2)) establishes CNLs as a basis 
for withdrawing duty-free treatment. The statute provides that when the 
President determines that a GSP beneficiary has exported to the United 
States during any calendar year a quantity of an eligible article that 
either is (1) greater than a specified amount ($185 million for 2018), 
or (2) exceeds 50 percent of the appraised value of the total U.S. 
imports of that article, the President ``shall, not later than November 
1 of the next calendar year, terminate the duty-free treatment for that 
article'' from that beneficiary, unless a waiver is granted.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ CNLs do not apply to least-developed or sub-Saharan African 
beneficiary countries (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(2)(D)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under 19 U.S.C. 2463(d), the President may waive either CNL if, 
before November 1 of the calendar year following the year in which 
imports exceeded CNLs, the President (1) receives advice from the U.S. 
International Trade Commission on whether any industry in the United 
States is ``likely to be adversely affected by such waiver''; (2) 
determines, based on certain statutory considerations,\2\ that such a 
waiver is in the national economic interest; and (3) publishes that 
determination in the Federal Register. The statute further provides in 
19 U.S.C. 2363(c)(2)(F) that the President may disregard the 50 percent 
CNL if total imports of an article did not exceed a de minimis amount 
($24 million in 2018), or if the product was not produced in the United 
States in any of the three preceding calendar years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ These include the general statutory considerations for 
granting duty-free treatment for any article from any beneficiary 
under 19 U.S.C. 2461, as well as the country eligibility criteria 
set forth in 19 U.S.C. 2462(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Results of the 2019 Annual GSP Review

    In the 2019 annual GSP review, the TPSC reviewed (1) petitions to 
remove the GSP eligibility of 2 products; (2) 3 petitions to 
redesignate products previously excluded from GSP eligibility for 
certain beneficiary countries; (3) petitions to waive CNLs for 2 
products from beneficiary countries; and (4) 27 products eligible for 1 
year de minimis waivers of CNLs.
    Presidential Proclamation 9955 of October 25, 2019, implements the 
President's decisions regarding the 2019 annual GSP review, including 
CNL waivers and product redesignations. These modifications to the GSP 
program, implemented by Presidential Proclamation 9955, became 
effective on November 1, 2019. This notice provides a summary of the 
results of the 2019 annual GSP review. You also can view the results, 
comprising five lists, at https://www.regulations.gov using docket 
number USTR-2019-0001, under ``Supporting and Related Materials'' and 
on the USTR website at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/gsp/Results_of_the_2019_GSP_Annual_Product_Review.pdf.
    As described in List I, the President denied the two petitions to 
remove Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) resin (HTS 3907.61.00 and HTS 
3907.69.00) from GSP eligibility for Pakistan. Qualifying products from 
Pakistan will continue to enter the United States duty-free.
    As described in List II, the President granted a petition to 
redesignate fresh-cut orchids (HTS 0603.13.00) from Thailand to GSP. In 
addition, the President granted a petition to redesignate bamboo 
plywood (HTS 4412.10.05) and certain tropical hardwood plywood (HTS 
4412.31.4155 (pre-November 1, 2019) and HTS 4412.31.45 (post November 
1, 2019)) from Indonesia to GSP. Qualifying products, therefore, now 
enter the United States duty-free.
    As described in List III, one product from North Macedonia exceeded 
the CNLs, for which no petition was received, and now enters the United 
States at the NTR duty rate. This product is motor vehicles with diesel 
engine for 16 or more passengers (HTS 8702.10.31).
    As described in List IV, the President granted a petition for a CNL 
waiver for plastic spectacle lenses (HTS 9001.50.00) from Thailand; 
qualifying products will continue to enter the

[[Page 64181]]

United States duty-free. The President denied a petition for a CNL 
waiver for stearic acid (HTS 3823.11.00) from Indonesia. Therefore, the 
product is subject to the NTR duty rate.
    As described in List V, the President granted one-year de minimis 
waivers to 27 products that exceeded the 50-percent import-share CNL 
but for which the aggregate value of all U.S. imports of that article 
was below the 2018 de minimis level of $24 million. Qualifying products 
will continue to enter the United States duty-free.

Erland Herfindahl,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System 
of Preferences, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-25095 Filed 11-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P

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