[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