Office of the United States Trade Representative 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on October 26, 2006, the Dispute Settlement Body established, at the request of Mexico, a panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement) concerning certain U.S. antidumping orders against stainless steel sheet and strip coils (Department of Commerce Case No. A-201-822). That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/SD344/4. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), seeks comment on the interim environmental review of the proposed United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The interim environmental review is available at https://www.ustr.gov/TradeSectors/Environment/EnvironmentalRev iews/ SectionIndex.html. Copies of the review will also be sent to interested members of the public by mail upon request.

Pursuant to section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 3106) (`section 1377'), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is reviewing and requests comments on: The operation, effectiveness, and implementation of and compliance with the following agreements regarding telecommunications products and services of the United States: the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') Agreement; the North American Free Trade Agreement (``NAFTA''); U.S. free trade agreements (``FTAs'') with Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Morocco, and Singapore; the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR''); and any other FTA or telecommunications trade agreement coming into force on or before January 1, 2007. The USTR will conclude the review by March 31, 2007.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that the European Communities (EC) has requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning various measures relating to zeroing and antidumping duty orders on certain products from the EC. The EC alleges that determinations made by U.S. authorities concerning these products, and certain related matters, are inconsistent with Articles 1, 2.1, 2.4, 2.4.2, 5.8, 9.1, 9.3, 9.5, 11, 18.3 and 18.4 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``AD Agreement''), Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``GATT 1994''), and Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in documents designated as WT/DS350/1 and WT/DS350/1/Add.1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute. In connection with the issues raised in the request for consultations, the public should be aware that on March 6, 2006, the Department of Commerce announced that it will no longer use ``zeroing'' when making average-to-average comparisons in an antidumping investigation. See 71 FR 11189.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on September 15, 2006, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement''), the United States requested the establishment of a dispute settlement panel regarding China's treatment of imported motor vehicle parts, components, and accessories (``auto parts''). That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS340/8. 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 Brazil has requested the establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement''). That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS267/ 30. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The following staff members have been appointed to serve on the Performance Review Board:

The Trade Policy Staff Committee gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requests written submissions from the public concerning the implications for U.S. trade in goods and services of the anticipated enlargement of the European Union (EU) to include Bulgaria and Romania. USTR and other agencies are currently engaged in an assessment of the potential impact on U.S. goods and services trade of the anticipated enlargement of the EU and, in particular, any compensatory adjustments that may be due under WTO rules. Comments from the public in response to this notice will be incorporated into that assessment.

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'' provision of the Trade Act. In addition, USTR is required to determine which of those countries should be identified as Priority Foreign Countries. In its Special 301 Report issued on April 28, 2006, USTR announced the results of the 2006 Special 301 review and stated that Out-of-Cycle Reviews (OCRs) would be conducted for Indonesia, Canada, Chile, Latvia and Saudi Arabia. USTR requests written comments from the public concerning the acts, policies, and practices relevant for this review under Section 182 of the Trade Act.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting public input as to the probable effect certain modifications to tariff treatment of imports under the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement on total U.S. trade, domestic producers, and workers in the affected industries. Specifically, USTR is evaluating proposals to accelerate the planned reduction in duties on nutritionals, peanuts, and polycarbonates of Singapore and to modify the rule of origin for photocopiers of Singapore. In addition, USTR is soliciting proposals regarding what sort of concessions Singapore, which does not impose duties on imports from the United States, could make to maintain the balance of concessions if these tariff acceleration requests are approved.

Legislation authorizing the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program expires on December 31, 2006. In connection with Congress' consideration of reauthorization of the program, the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) requested public comments on October 6, 2005, relating to whether the Administration's operation of the program should be changed so that benefits are not focused on trade from a few countries and that developing countries that traditionally have not been major traders under the program receive benefits. Based on information obtained thus far, the TPSC has decided to initiate a further review and request additional comments to determine whether major beneficiaries of the program have expanded exports or have progressed in their economic development within the meaning of the statute to the extent that their eligibility should be limited, suspended, or withdrawn, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462(d)). For the purpose of identifying beneficiary countries that are subject to this review and on which we are seeking comments, the TPSC looked at a country's total volume of trade under the GSP program, the World Bank's classification of the country's level of income, and the country's share of world goods exports. The TPSC is also conducting a review of existing competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers and requesting comments on whether any waivers should be terminated, pursuant to section 503(d)(5) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 2463(d)(5)), because they are no longer warranted due to changed circumstances. All public comments must be received by September 5, 2006.

This notice identifies those petitions that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received by the deadline of July 20, 2006, for consideration in the 2006 Annual Review. Because of technical difficulties in receiving petitions, USTR requests parties who submitted petitions prior to July 20, 2006, to review the list of petitioners included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION and to notify the USTR of any petitions that were submitted to the GSP Subcommittee by 5 p.m., July 20, 2006, but not included in that list.

Pursuant to Section 205(b) of the Dominican RepublicCentral AmericaUnited States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the Act), the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice of her determination that Guatemala is an eligible country for purposes of retroactive duty treatment as provided in Section 205 of the Act.

This notice announces that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will receive petitions in 2006 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 further determines that the deadline for submission of product petitions, other than those requesting competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers, and country practice petitions for the 2006 Annual GSP Product and Country Eligibility Practices Review is 5 p.m., July 20, 2006. The deadline for submission of product petitions requesting CNL waivers is 5 p.m., November 17, 2006. The list of product petitions and country practice petitions accepted for review will be announced in the Federal Register at later dates.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on April 24, 2006, Thailand requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning certain issues relating to the imposition of antidumping measures on shrimp from Thailand. That request may be found at https:// www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS343/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

This publication gives notice that, pursuant to the Trade Act of 2002, and consistent with Executive Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) (Nov. 18, 1999) and its implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is initiating an environmental review of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Malaysia. The TPSC is requesting written comments from the public on what should be included in the scope of the environmental review, including the potential environmental effects that might flow from the free trade agreement and the potential implications for U.S. environmental laws and regulations, and identification of complementarities between trade and environmental objectives such as the promotion of sustainable development. The TPSC also welcomes public views on appropriate methodologies and sources of data for conducting the review. Persons submitting written comments should provide as much detail as possible on the degree to which the subject matter they propose for inclusion in the review may raise significant environmental issues in the context of the negotiation.

Pursuant to section 533 of the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended (49 U.S.C. 50104), the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has determined not to include any countries on the list of countries that deny fair market opportunities for U.S. products, suppliers, or bidders in foreign government-funded airport construction projects.

This notice announces closure of the review for cases 012-CP- 05, Protection of Worker Rights in Swaziland and 015-CP-05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Kazakhstan.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has determined that the Republic of Chad has adopted an effective visa system and related procedures to prevent unlawful transshipment and the use of counterfeit documents in connection with shipments of textile and apparel articles and has implemented and follows, or is making substantial progress toward implementing and following, the customs procedures required by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Therefore, imports of eligible products from Chad qualify for the textile and apparel benefits provided under the AGOA.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on March 17, 2006, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement''), the United States requested consultations regarding Canada's provisional antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of unprocessed grain corn from the United States. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/ DS338/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Labor (Labor) are initiating a review of the impact of a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Malaysia on U.S. employment, including labor markets. This notice seeks written public comment on potentially significant sectoral or regional employment impacts (both positive and negative) in the United States as well as other likely labor market impacts of the FTA.