Executive Office of the President February 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Trade Representative has determined to terminate sanctions imposed on certain EC Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). This determination is based on assurances from the European Communities that EC telecommunications operators are no longer subject to discriminatory requirements, and that purchasing by EC telecommunications operators are now based solely on commercial considerations, not EC procurement rules. The termination of sanctions is effective on March 1, 2006.

The following persons have been appointed to the ONDCP Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board: Ms. Michele Marx, Mr. Joseph Keefe, Mr. Robert Denniston, and Mr. Patrick Ward.

The United States intends to initiate negotiations with the Republic of Korea (Korea) on a free trade agreement (FTA). The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in amplifying and clarifying negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement and to provide advice on how specific goods and services and other matters should be treated under the proposed agreement.

The Office of Management and Budget announces two meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.

The Out-of-Cycle Review (``OCR'') under section 182 (commonly referred to as the ``Special 301'' provision) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act''), has concluded with a finding that the Government of Ukraine substantially has improved its intellectual property right (``IPR'') enforcement efforts. As a result, the United States Trade Representative (``Trade Representative'') is revoking the identification of Ukraine as a Priority Foreign Country (``PFC'') under section 182 and instead is placing Ukraine on the Priority Watch List, and is restoring the tariff-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (``GSP'') accorded to products of Ukraine. Pursuant to section 306 of the Trade Act, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') will continue to monitor closely the Government of Ukraine's IPR enforcement efforts.