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 to 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 had an effective date of March 23, 2009. In order to allow additional time to reach agreement with the EC on an interim solution that would provide benefits to the U.S. beef industry, the Trade Representative has decided to delay for one month (until April 23, 2009) the effective date of the additional duties imposed under the January 15 modifications. The effective date of the removal of duties under the January 15 modifications will remain March 23, 2009. Effective Date: As set out in Annex I to this notice, the removal of duties on items deleted from the product list under the January 15 modifications shall be effective with respect to products that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after March 23, 2009. As set out in Annex II to this notice, the additional duties under the January 15 modifications shall be effective with respect to products that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 23, 2009.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extends the deadline for public comments on how to improve the process and principles governing Federal regulatory review.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a document in the Federal Register of August 4, 2006, concerning a determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in respect of Burkina Faso. The document did not expressly include a modification to list Burkina Faso in note 2(d) to Subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

A notice was published in the Federal Register dated February 26, 2009, Volume 74 page 8819 and March 4,2009, Volume number 74, Notice 41, page 9438, announcing a meeting of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11), scheduled for March 9, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting was to be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. However, the meeting has been cancelled in its entirety.

This notice announces the availability of full 2008 calendar year import statistics relating to competitive need limitations (CNLs) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will accept public comments submitted by 5 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2009, via https:// www.regulations.gov regarding three issues: (1) Potential revocation of CNL waivers that meet the statutory thresholds set forth by section 503(d)(4)(B)(ii) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(d)(4)(B)(ii)), as amended by Public Law 109-432; (2) possible de minimis CNL waivers; and (3) possible redesignations of articles currently not eligible for GSP benefits because they previously exceeded the CNL thresholds.

The Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a meeting on Monday, March 23, 2009, 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 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ONDCP invites comments on a collection of information.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on December 19, 2008, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement''), the United States requested consultations regarding certain measures offering grants, loans, and other incentives to enterprises in China. That request may be found at https:// www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS387/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

Under the authority of the Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950 (31 U.S.C. 1104(d)) and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3504(e)), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests public comment on the recommendations it has received from the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards Review Committee for changes to OMB's metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area standards. The committee's report and recommendations, which are published in their entirety in the Appendix, follow from study of the 2000 standards, published by OMB in the December 27, 2000 Federal Register (65 FR 82227-82238). The committee's work is a key element in OMB's review that will culminate in publication of the 2010 statistical area standards for the next decade. (Decisions on changes to the metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area standards will not affect the collection, tabulation, and publication of data from the 2010 Census and other current Federal data collections for geographic areas such as states, counties, county subdivisions, and municipalities.) Request for Comments: OMB is seeking comments only on the specific recommendations of the committee for revising the 2000 standards. In addition, OMB would welcome comments on the wording of the recommended 2010 standards to help ensure their clarity and understandability. Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available to the public, including by posting them on OMB's Web site. For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information. Electronic Availability: This notice is available on the Internet from the OMB Web site at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/ 2009.aspx. Federal Register notices are also available electronically from the U.S. Government Printing Office Web site at https:// www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.

In compliance with section 203(f) of the ATPA, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 3202(f)(2), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting the views of interested parties on whether the designated beneficiary countries are meeting the eligibility criteria under the ATPA. (See 19 U.S.C. 3203(b)(6)(B).) This information will be used in the preparation of a report to the Congress on the operation of the program.