Trade Representative, Office of United States May 13, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On January 15, 2009, the United States Trade Representative (``Trade Representative'') announced modifications (``January 15 modifications'') to the action taken in July 1999 in connection with the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') authorization of the United States in the EC-Beef Hormones dispute to suspend concessions and related obligations with respect to the European Communities (``EC''). See 74 FR 4265 (Jan. 23, 2009). The January 15 modifications initially had an effective date of March 23, 2009. The Trade Representative subsequently delayed the effective date of the additional duties imposed under the January 15 modifications until April 23, 2009, and then to May 9, 2009. The effective date of the removal of duties under the January 15 modifications remained March 23, 2009. See 74 FR 11613 (March 18, 2009); 74 FR 12402 (March 24, 2009); 74 FR 19263 (April 28, 2009). On May 6, 2009, the United States and the European Commission announced an ``agreement in principle'' regarding the dispute. The first phase of the agreement provides that the United States will not apply retaliatory duties greater than those currently in effect. In order to allow time to complete the procedures under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), that are needed to prevent the application of the additional duties under the January 15 modifications, the Trade Representative has decided to delay the effective date of the additional duties from May 9, 2009 to August 15, 2009.