Request for Comments and Notice of the Third United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Environment Committee Meeting, 57515 [2023-18152]

Agencies

• Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 57515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18152]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments and Notice of the Third United States-
Mexico-Canada Agreement Environment Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of committee meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Parties to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
(USMCA) intend to hold the third meeting of the Environment Committee 
(Committee) on September 27, 2023. Following the government-to-
government Committee meeting, the Committee will hold a virtual public 
session on implementation of the USMCA environment chapter. USTR seeks 
comments suggesting topics to be discussed during the Committee 
meeting, and questions for the public session.

DATES: 
    September 8, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of 
written comments suggesting topics for the Committee meeting and 
questions for the public session.
    September 27, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT: The Parties 
will host the third meeting of the Environment Committee.
    September 27, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT: The Parties 
will host a virtual public session of the Committee.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and/or your interest in joining the 
public session to Judith Webster, Director for Environment and Natural 
Resources, by email at [email protected] with the subject 
line USMCA Environment Committee Meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith Webster, Director for 
Environment and Natural Resources, at [email protected], or 
202-881-7318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Article 24.26 of the USMCA establishes an Environment Committee 
composed of senior government representatives to oversee implementation 
of chapter 24, the environment chapter, and provide a forum to discuss 
and review chapter implementation. The USMCA requires the Committee to 
meet within one year of the date of entry into force of the USMCA and 
every two years thereafter unless the Committee agrees otherwise. The 
Committee last met on September 23, 2022, and agreed to hold another 
meeting in 2023. All decisions and reports of the Committee will be 
made publicly available, unless the Committee decides otherwise. The 
Committee will provide for public input on matters relevant to the 
Committee's work, as appropriate, and hold a public session at each 
meeting.

II. Committee Meeting

    On September 27, 2023, the Committee will meet in a government-to-
government session to (1) review implementation of chapter 24 
(Environment), and discuss how the Parties are meeting their chapter 24 
obligations; and (2) receive a presentation from the Commission on 
Environmental Cooperation Secretariat on cooperation and public 
submissions for enforcement matters. This session will not be open to 
the public.

III. Public Session on USMCA Chapter 24 Implementation

    Following the government-to-government session, the Committee 
invites all interested persons to attend a virtual public session on 
USMCA Chapter 24 implementation. At the session, the Committee will 
welcome questions, input, and information concerning the Parties' 
implementation of the chapter 24 obligations. The Committee will cover 
both questions raised in comments submitted to USTR, and those 
submitted through a live chat function during the public session, 
overseen by a moderator. Information on how to register for the live 
session will be available at https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement/benefits-environment-united-states-mexico-canada-agreement by September 8, 2023, 
or you can email Judith Webster, Director for Environment and Natural 
Resources, at [email protected] for a link to join the live 
session.

IV. Comments

    USTR invites comments on topics and issues for the U.S. government 
to consider as it prepares for the Committee meeting, and specific 
questions for the public session. As noted, during the public session, 
there also will be an allotted time for the public to ask questions 
through a chat function overseen by a moderator. Accordingly, 
participation in the public session is not limited to the questions 
submitted through comments in advance of the session. When preparing 
comments, we encourage submitters to refer to Chapter 24 of the USMCA: 
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/IssueAreas/Environment/USMCA_Environment_Chapter_24.pdf.

Kelly Milton,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Environment and Natural 
Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-18152 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
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