[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3218]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 11, 1994]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); South Africa,
Beneficiary Developing Country Designation Criteria; Peru,
Expropriation Practices and Restoration of Copper Wire
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and solicitation of public comment.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces: (1) The initiation of a review to
consider the designation of South Africa as a beneficiary developing
country under the GSP program, and solicits public comment relating to
the designation criteria; (2) an opportunity for public comment on the
USITC advice rendered in the 1993 Annual GSP Review; and (3) the
successful disposition of the review of appropriation practices in Peru
and the restoration of certain copper wire to GSP for Peru.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600
17th Street NW., room 517, Washington, DC 20506. The telephone number
is (202) 395-6971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Eligibility Review for South Africa
The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) has initiated a review to
determine if South Africa meets the designation criteria of the GSP law
and should be designated as a beneficiary developing country for
purposes of the GSP, which is provided for in the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 2461-2465). The designation criteria are listed in
sections 502(a), 502(b) and 502(c) of the Act. Interested parties are
invited to submit comments regarding the eligibility of South Africa
for designation as a GSP beneficiary. The designation criteria mandate
determinations related to participation in commodity cartels,
preferential treatment provided to other developed countries,
expropriation without compensation, enforcement of arbitral awards,
support of international terrorism, and protection of internationally
recognized worker rights. Other practices taken into account relate to
the extent of market access for goods and services, investment
practices and protection of intellectual property rights.
Comments must be submitted in 14 copies, in English, to the
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600
17th Street NW., room 517, Washington, DC 20506. Comments must be
received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 1994. Information
and comments submitted regarding South Africa will be subject to public
inspection by appointment with the staff of the USTR Public Reading
Room, except for information granted ``business confidential'' status
pursuant to 15 CFR 2003.6. If the document contains business
confidential information, 14 copies of a nonconfidential version of the
submission along with 14 copies of the confidential version must be
submitted. In addition, the submission should be clearly marked
``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each and every page of the
document. The version which does not contain business confidential
information (the public version) should also be clearly marked at the
top and bottom of each and every page (either ``public version'' or
``nonconfidential'').
II. Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on the USITC Advice
Rendered in the 1993 Annual GSP Review
On October 19, 1993, USTR announced which product and country
practice petitions were being accepted for further review in the 1993
Annual GSP Review (58 FR 53959). In that notice, it was noted that USTR
would seek advice from the USITC on the probable economic effect of the
modification of the list of articles eligible for GSP on industries
producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers.
The report containing the public version of the USITC advice is
entitled President's List of Articles Which May Be Designated or
Modified as Eligible Articles for Purposes of the U.S. Generalized
System of Preferences, Report to the President on Investigation Nos.
TA-131-20, 503(a)-25, and 332-346, USITC Publication 2725 (February
1994) (hereinafter USITC Publication 2725). USITC Publication 2725 is
available from the USITC by calling the Office of the Secretary of the
USITC at (202) 205-1806. USITC Publication 2725 is also available for
review by appointment with the USTR Public Reading Room. The USTR
Public Reading Room is located at 600 17th Street, NW., room 101,
Washington, DC 20506. Appointments may be made from 10 a.m. to noon and
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by calling (202) 395-6186.
Comments must be submitted in 14 copies, in English, to the
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600
17th Street NW., room 517, Washington, DC 20506. Comments must be
received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 1994. Information
and comments submitted regarding the USITC advice in the 1993 Annual
GSP Review will be subject to public inspection by appointment with the
staff of the USTR Public Reading Room, except for information granted
``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 2003.6. If the
document contains business confidential information, 14 copies of a
nonconfidential version of the submission along with 14 copies of the
confidential version must be submitted. In addition, the submission
should be clearly marked ``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each
and every page of the document. The version which does not contain
business confidential information (the public version) should also be
clearly marked at the top and bottom of each and every page (either
``public version'' or ``non-confidential'').
III. Disposition of the Review of Expropriation Practices in Peru and
the Restoration of Certain Cooper Wire for Peru
In July 1993, the TPSC announced that the review of Peru's actions
regarding an alleged expropriation without compensation was being
extended (58 FR 37035). In September 1993, the petitioner in this case
withdrew its petition after satisfactorily resolving the subject
dispute, and the TPSC terminated the GSP review. As a result, the
United States Trade Representative hereby announces that the waiver of
the competitive need limits for certain copper wire from Peru that was
granted by the President in section 3 of Annex VI of Proclamation 6447
of June 15, 1992 (57 FR 26981) is effective on December 31, 1993.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 94-3218 Filed 2-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M