Office of the United States Trade Representative March 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of full 2012 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 April 12, 2013, regarding: (1) Possible de minimis CNL waivers; (2) possible redesignations of articles currently not eligible for GSP benefits because they previously exceeded the CNL thresholds; and (3) potential revocation of CNL waivers.

Under the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act (IFTA Act), articles of qualifying industrial zones (QIZs) encompassing portions of Israel and Jordan or Israel and Egypt are eligible to receive duty-free treatment. Effective upon publication of this notice, the United States Trade Representative, pursuant to authority delegated by the President, is modifying the designation of the previously-designated Al Minya, Alexandria, Beni Suief, Central Delta, Greater Cairo, and Suez Canal zones in Egypt under the IFTA Act to provide that all present and future facilities in these zones are potentially able to export goods duty-free to the United States. This modification would also clarify and, in some cases, adjust the geographic boundaries of the QIZs.