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

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on February 2, 2007, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement), the United States requested consultations regarding certain measures granting refunds, reductions or exemptions from taxes and other payments owed to the government by enterprises in China. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS358/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on January 8, 2007, Canada requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') regarding U.S. domestic support measures for corn and other agricultural products. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS357/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement Act Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (the ``Subcommittee'') is requesting that the public provide written comments on whether Haiti meets the eligibility requirements set out in 5002(d) of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE). The Subcommittee will consider these comments in developing a recommendation to the President on Haiti's eligibility under HOPE. The President is required to make this determination no later than March 20, 2007.

As a result of becoming EU Member States on January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania are no longer designated as beneficiary developing countries under the U.S. GSP program, effective as of that date.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received petitions in connection with the 2006 GSP Annual Review to modify the list of products that are eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program and to modify the GSP status of certain GSP beneficiary developing countries because of country practices. This notice announces the product and country practice petitions that are accepted for further review in the 2006 GSP Annual Review, and sets forth the schedule for comment and public hearing on these petitions, for requesting participation in the hearing, and for submitting pre- hearing and post-hearing briefs. The list of accepted petitions is available at: https://www.ustr.gov/TradeDevelopment/Preference Programs/GSP/SectionIndex.html. This notice also announces closure of the review for case 003-CP-06 (formerly case 011-CP-05), Protection of Worker Rights in Uganda.

Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2242), requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. (Section 182 is commonly referred to as the ``Special ``301'' provisions of the Trade Act.) In addition, the USTR is required to determine which of these countries should be identified as Priority Foreign Countries. Acts, policies or practices that are the basis of a country's identification as a priority foreign country are normally the subject of an investigation under the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act. Section 182 of the Trade Act contains a special rule for the identification of actions by Canada affecting United States cultural industries. USTR requests written submissions from the public concerning foreign countries' acts, policies, and practices that are relevant to the decision whether particular trading partners should be identified under Section 182 of the Trade Act.

Consistent with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Executive Order 13392, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has undertaken and completed a zero-based review of its public FOIA regulations governing fees associated with the processing of FOIA requests. As a result of this review, the Agency proposes to revise its fee-related regulations to eliminate unnecessary restrictions on FOIA requesters and to consolidate all regulatory requirements regarding FOIA fees in one subsection of the Code of Federal Regulations. As required by the FOIA, the Agency is providing an opportunity for interested persons to submit comments on these proposed regulations.