Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments, 63462-63463 [2024-17235]

Download as PDF 63462 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 150 / Monday, August 5, 2024 / Notices Condensed-Balance-Sheet.pdf, respectively. It should be noted that the form for this report has been reformatted in a way that should allow for more efficient submission and agency processing, but the information has not changed. The form continues to contain all of the same data elements. The information contained in this report is not available from any other source. The Board makes this submission because, under the PRA, a Federal agency that conducts or sponsors a collection of information must display a currently valid OMB control number. A collection of information, which is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c), includes agency requirements that persons submit reports, keep records, or provide information to the agency, third parties, or the public. Under 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), Federal agencies are required to provide, prior to an agency’s submitting a collection to OMB for approval, a 60-day notice and comment period through publication in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information. Dated: July 31, 2024. Kenyatta Clay, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–17184 Filed 8–2–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2024–0012] Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China’s Compliance With WTO Commitments Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing. AGENCY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking public comments to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to Congress on China’s compliance with its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notice includes the schedule for the submission of comments to the TPSC for the China report and a public hearing. DATES: September 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of written comments, requests to testify, and summaries of written testimony. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:38 Aug 02, 2024 Jkt 262001 China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–286), USTR is required to submit, on or about December 11 of each year, a report to Congress on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including both multilateral commitments and any bilateral commitments made to the United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist it in preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is soliciting public comments. You can find last year’s report on the USTR website at: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/ USTR%20Report%20 on%20China’s%20WTO%20 Compliance%20(Final).pdf. The terms of China’s accession to the WTO are contained in the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s Republic of China (including its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. You can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO website at https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/ MIN(01)/3, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/ MIN(01)/3/Add.2). participation, you must submit requests to present oral testimony at the hearing and written testimony by midnight on September 10, 2024, via Regulations.gov, using Docket Number USTR–2024–0012. Instructions for submission are in Sections III and IV below. Remarks at the hearing will be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. Because it is a public hearing, testimony should not include any business confidential information (BCI). USTR will provide a link in advance of the virtual hearing to persons wishing to testify. The TPSC requests small businesses or organizations representing small business members that submit comments to self-identify as such, so that we may be aware of issues of particular interest to small businesses. Written comments and/or oral testimony should address China’s compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following areas: A. Trading rights. B. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import licenses). C. Export regulation. D. Internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and charges levied on imports and exports). E. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement). F. Services. G. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform. H. Other WTO commitments. In addition, given the United States’ view that China should be held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the international trading system, USTR requests that interested persons specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review and evaluation by USTR. II. Hearing Participation III. Procedures for Written Submissions USTR will convene a public hearing on September 24, 2024, related to China’s compliance with its WTO commitments. Persons wishing to observe the public hearing will find a link on USTR’s web page for China on the day of the hearing at https:// ustr.gov/countries-regions/chinamongolia-taiwan. To ensure To be assured of consideration, submit your written comments, requests to testify, and summaries of written testimony by the September 10, 2024 11:59 p.m. EDT deadline. All submissions must be in English. The TPSC strongly encourages submissions via Regulations.gov, using Docket Number USTR–2024–0012. September 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EDT: The TPSC will convene a public hearing to receive oral testimony. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting written comments and testimony and requests to testify in sections III and IV below, using Docket Number USTR– 2024–0012. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China Affairs, in advance of the relevant deadline at Thomas.A.Martin@ ustr.eop.gov or 202.395.9625. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China Affairs at Thomas.A.Martin@ ustr.eop.gov or (202) 395–9625. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05AUN1.SGM 05AUN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 150 / Monday, August 5, 2024 / Notices To make a submission via Regulations.gov, enter Docket Number USTR–2024–0012 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 ‘refine documents results’ section on the left side of the screen and click on the link entitled ‘comment.’ Regulations.gov allows users to make submissions by filling in a ‘type comment’ field, or by attaching a document using the ‘upload file’ field. USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached document and, in such cases, that you write ‘see attached’ in the ‘type comment’ field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ‘type comment’ field. At the beginning of your submission or on the first page (if an attachment), include the following text: (1) 2024 China WTO Compliance Report; (2) your organization’s name; and (3) whether the submission is a written comment, request to testify, or summary of written testimony. Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Please do not attach separate cover letters, exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to electronic submissions; rather, include any in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files. You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the submission procedure at Regulations.gov. The tracking number is confirmation that Regulations.gov received your submission. Keep the confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical assistance for Regulations.gov. For further information on using Regulations.gov, please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on ‘How to Use Regulations.gov’ on the bottom of the home page. USTR may not consider submissions that you do not make in accordance with these instructions. If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please contact Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China Affairs, in advance of the deadline at Thomas.A.Martin@ustr.eop.gov or (202) 395–9625, to arrange for an alternative method of transmission. USTR will not accept hand-delivered submissions. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:38 Aug 02, 2024 Jkt 262001 IV. Business Confidential Information (BCI) Submissions If you ask USTR to treat information you submit as BCI, you must certify that the information is business confidential and you would not customarily release it to the public. For any comments submitted electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters ‘BCI.’ You must clearly mark any page containing BCI with ‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’ at the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a public version of their submission that will be placed in the docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ‘P.’ V. Public Viewing of Review Submissions USTR will post written submissions in the docket for public inspection, except properly designated BCI. You can view submissions at Regulations.gov by entering Docket Number USTR–2024–0012 in the search field on the home page. Laura Buffo, Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2024–17235 Filed 8–2–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3390–F4–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2024–0011] Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Russia’s Implementation of Its WTO Commitments Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing. AGENCY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking public comments to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to Congress on Russia’s implementation of its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notice includes the schedule for the submission of comments to the TPSC for the Russia report and a public hearing. DATES: September 18, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of written comments, requests to testify, and SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63463 written testimony, regarding the Russia WTO implementation report. October 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EDT: The TPSC will convene a public hearing to receive oral testimony related to the Russia WTO implementation report. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting comments in sections III and IV below, using docket number USTR–2024–0011. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Silvia Savich, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, in advance of the relevant deadline at Silvia.Savich@ ustr.eop.gov or 202.395.2256. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Silvia Savich, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at Silvia.Savich@ustr.eop.gov or 202.395.2256. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Russia became a Member of the WTO on August 22, 2012, and on December 21, 2012, following termination of the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia and the extension of permanent normal trade relations to the products of Russia, the United States and Russia filed letters with the WTO withdrawing their notices of nonapplication and consenting to have the WTO Agreement apply between them. In accordance with Section 201(a) of the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112–208), USTR is required to submit annually a report to Congress on the extent to which Russia is implementing the WTO Agreement, including the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The report also must assess Russia’s progress on acceding to and implementing the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). In addition, to the extent that USTR finds that Russia is not implementing fully any WTO agreement or is not making adequate progress in acceding to the ITA or the GPA, USTR must describe in the report the actions it plans to take to encourage Russia to improve its implementation and/or increase its accession efforts. In accordance with Section 201(a), and to assist it in preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is soliciting public comments. You can find last year’s report on E:\FR\FM\05AUN1.SGM 05AUN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63462-63463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17235]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2024-0012]


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

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

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

SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking 
public comments to assist the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to 
Congress on China's compliance with its obligations as a Member of the 
World Trade Organization (WTO). This notice includes the schedule for 
the submission of comments to the TPSC for the China report and a 
public hearing.

DATES: 
    September 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of 
written comments, requests to testify, and summaries of written 
testimony.
    September 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EDT: The TPSC will convene a public 
hearing to receive oral testimony.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov 
(Regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting written 
comments and testimony and requests to testify in sections III and IV 
below, using Docket Number USTR-2024-0012. For alternatives to on-line 
submissions, please contact Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China 
Affairs, in advance of the relevant deadline at 
[email protected] or 202.395.9625.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China 
Affairs at [email protected] or (202) 395-9625.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In 
accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 
(Pub. L. 106-286), USTR is required to submit, on or about December 11 
of each year, a report to Congress on China's compliance with 
commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including 
both multilateral commitments and any bilateral commitments made to the 
United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist it in 
preparing this year's report, the TPSC is soliciting public comments. 
You can find last year's report on the USTR website at: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/USTR%20Report%20on%20China's%20WTO%20Compliance%20(Final).pdf.
    The terms of China's accession to the WTO are contained in the 
Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China (including 
its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the 
Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. You 
can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO website at 
https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/MIN(01)/3, 
WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.2).

II. Hearing Participation

    USTR will convene a public hearing on September 24, 2024, related 
to China's compliance with its WTO commitments. Persons wishing to 
observe the public hearing will find a link on USTR's web page for 
China on the day of the hearing at https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan. To ensure participation, you must submit 
requests to present oral testimony at the hearing and written testimony 
by midnight on September 10, 2024, via Regulations.gov, using Docket 
Number USTR-2024-0012. Instructions for submission are in Sections III 
and IV below. Remarks at the hearing will be limited to no more than 
five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. Because it 
is a public hearing, testimony should not include any business 
confidential information (BCI). USTR will provide a link in advance of 
the virtual hearing to persons wishing to testify.
    The TPSC requests small businesses or organizations representing 
small business members that submit comments to self-identify as such, 
so that we may be aware of issues of particular interest to small 
businesses.
    Written comments and/or oral testimony should address China's 
compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession 
to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following 
areas:
    A. Trading rights.
    B. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, 
import licenses).
    C. Export regulation.
    D. Internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards 
and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, 
government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and 
charges levied on imports and exports).
    E. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property 
rights enforcement).
    F. Services.
    G. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform 
administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform.
    H. Other WTO commitments.
    In addition, given the United States' view that China should be 
held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the 
international trading system, USTR requests that interested persons 
specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review 
and evaluation by USTR.

III. Procedures for Written Submissions

    To be assured of consideration, submit your written comments, 
requests to testify, and summaries of written testimony by the 
September 10, 2024 11:59 p.m. EDT deadline. All submissions must be in 
English. The TPSC strongly encourages submissions via Regulations.gov, 
using Docket Number USTR-2024-0012.

[[Page 63463]]

    To make a submission via Regulations.gov, enter Docket Number USTR-
2024-0012 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 `refine documents 
results' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link 
entitled `comment.'
    Regulations.gov allows users to make submissions by filling in a 
`type comment' field, or by attaching a document using the `upload 
file' field. USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached 
document and, in such cases, that you write `see attached' in the `type 
comment' field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or 
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, 
please indicate the name of the application in the `type comment' 
field.
    At the beginning of your submission or on the first page (if an 
attachment), include the following text: (1) 2024 China WTO Compliance 
Report; (2) your organization's name; and (3) whether the submission is 
a written comment, request to testify, or summary of written testimony. 
Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size 
pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Please do not attach 
separate cover letters, exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to 
electronic submissions; rather, include any in the same file as the 
submission itself, not as separate files. You will receive a tracking 
number upon completion of the submission procedure at Regulations.gov. 
The tracking number is confirmation that Regulations.gov received your 
submission. Keep the confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to 
provide technical assistance for Regulations.gov.
    For further information on using Regulations.gov, please consult 
the resources provided on the website by clicking on `How to Use 
Regulations.gov' on the bottom of the home page. USTR may not consider 
submissions that you do not make in accordance with these instructions.
    If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please 
contact Alex Martin, Deputy Director for China Affairs, in advance of 
the deadline at [email protected] or (202) 395-9625, to 
arrange for an alternative method of transmission. USTR will not accept 
hand-delivered submissions.
    General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.

IV. Business Confidential Information (BCI) Submissions

    If you ask USTR to treat information you submit as BCI, you must 
certify that the information is business confidential and you would not 
customarily release it to the public. For any comments submitted 
electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business 
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' You must 
clearly mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' at 
the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must 
submit a public version of their submission that will be placed in the 
docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version 
should begin with the character `P.'

V. Public Viewing of Review Submissions

    USTR will post written submissions in the docket for public 
inspection, except properly designated BCI. You can view submissions at 
Regulations.gov by entering Docket Number USTR-2024-0012 in the search 
field on the home page.

Laura Buffo,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2024-17235 Filed 8-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P

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