Office of the United States Trade Representative March 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This publication gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is initiating an environmental review of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPP) between the United States and the other countries currently involved in TPP negotiations. 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 trade agreement and the potential implications for U.S. environmental laws and regulations. The TPSC is also requesting identification of potential 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. The review will be conducted consistent with the relevant procedures of Executive Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) (Nov. 18, 1999) and its implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442). 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. Public comments on environmental issues submitted in response to a previous notice (74 FR 66720) requesting comments from the public to assist USTR in formulating positions and proposals with respect to all aspects of the negotiation of a Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement will be taken into account in preparing the environmental review and do not need to be resubmitted.

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written comments from the public with respect to the expansion of the list of pharmaceuticals subject to reciprocal duty elimination by certain members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The specific information being sought is described in the background section below.