Executive Office of the President 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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).

The Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a meeting on Monday, September 14, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and opened to the public from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking the views of interested parties on the operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), as amended by the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). Section 212(f) of the CBERA, as amended, requires the President to submit a report to Congress regarding the operation of the CBERA and CBTPA (together commonly referred to as the Caribbean Basin Initiative, or CBI) on or before December 31, 2001, and every two years thereafter. The TPSC invites written comments concerning the operation of the CBI, including comments on the performance of each CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary country, as the case may be, under the criteria described in sections 212(b), 212(c), and 213(b)(5)(B) of the CBERA, as amended. This information will be used in the preparation of a report to the U.S. Congress on the operation of the program.

On May 13, 2009, the United States and the European Communities (``EC'') announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the Beef Hormones dispute. Under the first phase of the agreement, the EC is obligated to open a new beef tariff-rate quota (TRQ) in the amount of 20,000 metric tons at zero rate of duty. The United States in turn is obligated not to increase additional duties above those in effect as of March 23, 2009. The EC opened the new beef TRQ on August 1, 2009. This notice undertakes the process necessary to implement U.S. obligations under the first phase of the MOU and to pursue additional market access under subsequent phases of the MOU.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is conducting a review of labor-related issues in the context of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the Republic of Colombia (Colombia) signed on November 22, 2006, and amended on June 28, 2007. The FTA has not yet entered into effect. As part of that review, the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) seeks comment from the public to assist the USTR in working with the Colombian government to secure continued progress in ensuring that Colombia's workers can fully exercise their fundamental labor rights.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is assessing how and to what extent the free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the Republic of Korea (Korea) signed on June 30, 2007 makes progress in achieving the applicable purposes, policies, priorities, and objectives of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (``TPA Act'') (19 U.S.C. 3801 note) as set out in section 2102 of the TPA Act and carries out the provisions of the May 10, 2007 Congressional-Executive Agreement on Trade Policy, https://www.ustr.gov/ sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/2007/asset_upload_file 127_ 11319.pdf (``May 10 Agreement''). The FTA has not yet entered into effect. The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) seeks public comment to assist the USTR in its assessment.

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).

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined, pursuant to section 421(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2451(b)(1)), that certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires \1\ from the People's Republic of China (China) are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products. Pursuant to section 421(h)(1) of the Trade Act, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is publishing notice of proposed restrictions with respect to imports of Chinese tires. USTR invites domestic producers, importers, exporters, and other interested parties to submit their views and evidence on the appropriateness of the proposed restrictions and whether they would be in the public interest. USTR also invites interested parties to participate in a public hearing (if one is requested).

This notice announces: (1) The disposition of the product petitions accepted for review in the 2008 GSP Annual Product Review; (2) the results of the 2008 Competitive Need Limitations (CNL) Waiver Review; (3) the results of the 2008 Competitive Need Limitation Waiver Revocation Review; (4) the addition of a product to the list of products that were not produced in the United States on January 1, 1995; (5) the results of the 2008 De Minimis Waiver and Redesignation Reviews; and (6) the continuation of the 2008 Country Practices Review.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on June 23, 2009, the People's Republic of China (``China'') requested the establishment of a panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') with respect to certain measures affecting the import of poultry products from China into the United States. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS392/2. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has determined not to initiate an investigation under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to a petition alleging that the Government of Israel has breached obligations under the WTO Agreement to protect intellectual property rights (IPR).