Trade Representative, Office of United States July 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that members of the public have an opportunity to view the non-confidential session of the second substantive meeting of the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') in the dispute European Communities and Certain Member StatesMeasures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft (WT/DS316). At the session, parties will make their opening statements and may pose questions or make comments on the other party's statement. The United States does not expect the Panel to pose any questions or make any comments during the session. The session will be videotaped. At an appropriate time after the session is over, the Panel will confirm that no business confidential information was referenced during the session. Public viewing of the videotape will occur after the conclusion of the second substantive meeting, which will take place July 24-26, 2007. In the case of the first panel meeting, the viewing was held the day after the panel meeting concluded, so the viewing could be as early as July 27. Once the WTO announces the time and date of the public viewing, USTR will post that information on its Web site at www.ustr.gov. The public viewing will be held at the World Trade Organization, Centre William Rappard, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland. USTR invites any person interested in viewing the non-confidential session to so inform USTR by e-mail at rsvp-DS316@ustr.eop.gov. USTR urges that the request be made as soon as possible and in any event no later than July 20. Requests will be forwarded to the WTO. Each request should indicate the person's full name, contact information (full address, phone, and e-mail), organization (if any), and nationality, and whether the person has made any other request to view the session (such as a request directly to the WTO or to the other party to the dispute, the European Communities).

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requests written submissions from the public concerning the negotiations for compensatory adjustments to U.S. Schedule of Services Commitments under WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in response to notice of the United States of intent to modify its schedule under Article XXI of the GATS. On May 4, 2007, the United States filed with the WTO a notification to the Council for Trade in Services (CTS) pursuant to Article XXI:1(b) of the GATS stating the intention of the United States to modify its commitment for ``other recreational services'' to explicitly exclude gambling and betting services. In accordance with the procedural schedule set out in the WTO ``Procedures for the Implementation of Article XXI of the GATS: Modification of Schedules'' (WTO Document S/L/ 80) (``Article XXI Procedures''), on June 22 the United States received notice from eight WTO Members that they consider that their benefits under the GATS may be affected by the proposed modification. Consequently, consistent with Article XXI:2(a) of the GATS, the United States has entered into negotiations with these WTO Members with a view to reaching agreement on any necessary compensatory adjustment. The aim of such negotiations and agreement shall be to maintain a general level of mutually advantageous commitments not less favorable to trade than that provided for in the U.S. schedules of specific commitments prior to such negotiations.

This notice announces the disposition of the product petitions accepted for review in the 2006 GSP Annual Product Review, the results of the 2006 Country Practices Review, the results of the 2006 De Minimis Waiver and Redesignation Reviews, the 2006 Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) Removals, and certain CNL Waiver Revocations. The disposition of the petitions and other results are available at: http:/ /www.ustr.gov/TradeDevelopment/PreferencePrograms/GSP/Section Index.html and as published in Presidential Proclamation 8157 in the June 29, 2007, Federal Register.