Executive Office of the President – 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.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board (CASB), invites public comments and information on a provision that provides an exemption from CAS for contracts and subcontracts that are executed and performed entirely outside the United States, its territories, and possessions (overseas exemption).

The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) is establishing Governmentwide guidance and standard award terms for agencies to include in financial assistance awards (namely, grants, cooperative agreements, and loans) as part of their implementation of sections 1512, and 1605, and 1606 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). This guidance does not cover all award terms that may be needed on financial assistance awards funded directly or assisted by the Federal Government under the Recovery Act. The focus of this guidance is on implementing Recovery Act provisions that may require greater clarification in order to foster consistent application across the Federal Government. Under the interim final guidance, agencies would use the standard award terms in their financial assistance awards to require recipients and subrecipients (first-tier that are not individuals) to maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database; to require recipients to report quarterly on project or activity status, subgrant and subcontract information; to notify recipients of the domestic sourcing (``Buy American'') requirements that apply to certain iron, steel and manufactured goods; to notify recipients of the wage rate requirements that apply to certain projects; and to ensure proper accounting and reporting of Recovery Act expenditures in single audits.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on March 9, 2009, Mexico requested the establishment of a panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning U.S. limitations on the use of a dolphin-safe label for tuna and tuna products. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS381/4. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR'' or ``Agreement'') requires the establishment of four rosters of individuals that would be available to serve as panelists in dispute settlement proceedings arising under the Agreement. A general roster is required to be established under Chapter Twenty (Dispute Settlement). Chapter Twelve (Financial Services), Chapter Sixteen (Labor), and Chapter Seventeen (Environment) require the establishment of separate rosters for disputes arising under those chapters.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) invites the general public and Federal agencies to comment on the standard data elements that are being reviewed under emergency review procedures for use in complying with reporting requirements under section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (``Recovery Act''). The title of the standard data element set is ``Standard Data Elements for Reports under Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 (Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Loans).'' Once the standard data elements are approved, each federal agency must require its recipients of grants, cooperative agreements and loans made under the Recovery Act to report the information and data electronically through a central Governmentwide portal or through an agency information collection process. Information on the reporting procedures will be posted to https://www.federalreporting.gov once available. Recipients of Recovery Act funded grants, cooperative agreements and loans may collect the data and information approved under this approved information collection from their subrecipients and subcontractors. A standard information collection for recipients of Recovery Act funded contracts directly awarded by the Federal government is being reviewed under a separate information collection process.