Executive Office of the President 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the initiation of a review to consider designating the Republic of Kosovo as a beneficiary developing country (BDC) for purposes of the GSP program, and solicits public comments on whether Kosovo meets certain eligibility criteria for designation as a BDC. Comments are due by Friday, October 17, 2008, and must be submitted in accordance with the requirements set out below.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announces that it will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) an information collection request for processing under 5 CFR 1320.10.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (the ``Subcommittee'') is requesting written public comments for the annual review of the eligibility of sub-Saharan African countries to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Subcommittee will consider these comments in developing recommendations on AGOA country eligibility for the President. Comments received related to the child labor criteria may also be considered by the Secretary of Labor for the preparation of the Department of Labor's report on child labor as required under section 412(c) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. This notice identifies the eligibility criteria that must be considered under AGOA, and lists those sub-Saharan African countries that are currently eligible for the benefits of the AGOA, and those that are currently ineligible for such benefits.

In accordance with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3520), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is publishing a ``list of the compliance assistance resources available to small businesses'' and a list of the points of contacts in agencies ``to act as a liaison between the agency and small business concerns'' with respect to the collection of information and the control of paperwork. This information is posted on the following Web site: http:/ /www.business.gov/contacts/federal/.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received petitions in connection with the 2008 GSP Annual Review to modify the list of products that are eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program and to modify the GSP status of certain GSP beneficiary developing countries because of country practices. This notice announces the product petitions, other than those requesting competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers, and country practice petitions accepted in previous GSP annual reviews that continue to be under review in the 2008 GSP Annual Review, and sets forth the schedule for comment and public hearings on these petitions, for requesting participation in the hearings, and for submitting pre-hearing and post- hearing briefs. The list of accepted petitions is available at: https:// www.ustr.gov/Trade_Development/Preference_Programs/GSP/Sectio n_ Index.html. [2008 Annual review].

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), together with key trading partners, is negotiating an Anti- Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with the objective of strengthening international cooperation, enforcement practices, and participants' legal frameworks to address counterfeiting and piracy. As part of this effort, USTR, together with the U.S. Department of Commerce, is organizing a public meeting to consult with interested parties on the initiative. The purposes of the meeting will be to inform stakeholders about ACTA and to receive comments from stakeholders about their views regarding this initiative. Interested parties should review the section on requirements for participation below.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Cost Accounting Standards Board, invites public comments concerning an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the harmonization of Cost Accounting Standards 412 and 413 with the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: September 16, 2008, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 at the Keck Center of the National Academies at 500 5th St., NW., Washington DC. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://ostp.gov/cs/pcast/meetings agendas. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday September 16, 2008, at approximately 9 a.m. The chairs of the PCAST subcommittee on university-private sector research partnerships are tentatively scheduled to lead a discussion on the findings of the PCAST study on this issue. The PCAST also is tentatively scheduled to convene three panels. The first panel will address broad policy issues associated with science and engineering education. The second panel will explore the impact of science policy on innovation. Additionally, PCAST is tentatively scheduled to have a panel providing an update on energy-related technologies. This session will end at approximately 4 p.m. Additional information and the final agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https://ostp.gov/cs/ pcast/meetingsagendas. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST?s work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Dr. Scott Steele, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456- 6549, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6040.

The Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a meeting on Monday, September 15, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and opened to the public from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative published a document in the Federal Register of August 24, 2007 concerning Fiscal Year 2008 Tariff-Rate Quota allocations of raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar, and sugar-containing products. The document contained incorrect data.

The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to the Congress on China's compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).