[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19713]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 12, 1994]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
 

Trade Policy Staff Committee; Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP); Review of GSP Benefits Lost by Thailand in 1989

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of public comment.

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SUMMARY: In 1989, Thailand lost some GSP benefits following a 
determination that Thailand does not provide adequate and effective 
intellectual property right protection. The purpose of this notice is: 
(1) to announce the initiation of a review process to consider whether 
any of the GSP benefits that were lost by Thailand should be restored; 
and (2) to solicit public comments on the restoration of such benefits.

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. Background

    On January 19, 1989, President Reagan determined, pursuant to 
sections 502 and 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2462 and 2464), that Thailand does not fully provide adequate and 
effective means to secure, exercise and enforce exclusive rights in 
intellectual property (54 Federal Register 3573). Accordingly, the 
President: (1) denied a competitive need limit waiver; (2) revoked four 
competitive need limit waivers; (3) imposed reduced competitive need 
limits to certain specified articles; and (4) established a policy that 
future requests for competitive need limit waivers for Thai products 
would not be considered until Thailand provides adequate and effective 
intellectual property right (IPR) protection.
    As a result of the 1989 determination, Thailand became ineligible 
for GSP treatment on articles in the following subheadings of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS):

HTS subheading 0713.31.40  mung beans
HTS subheading 1102.30.00  rice flour
HTS subheading 1103.14.00  rice meal
HTS subheading 6702.90.65  artificial flowers
HTS subheading 6908.10.20  ceramic tile
HTS subheading 7113.11.20  jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.11.50  jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.19.50  jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.20.50  jewelry
HTS subheading 9401.40.00  seats
HTS subheading 9401.61.60  seats
HTS subheading 9401.69.80  seats
HTS subheading 9403.30.80  wooden office furniture
HTS subheading 9403.40.90  wooden kitchen furniture
HTS subheading 9403.50.90  wooden bedroom furniture
HTS subheading 9403.60.80  other wooden furniture

II. GSP Review for Thailand

    On July 20, 1994, U.S. Trade Representative Kantor announced that 
USTR would initiate a review process to determine whether any of the 
GSP benefits that Thailand lost in 1989 should be restored because of 
progress by the Government of Thailand on IPR protection. This notice 
formally announces the initiation of a review process to determine 
whether Thailand's eligibility for GSP treatment for the products in 
these HTS subheadings should be restored. The decision on whether to 
restore any GSP benefits to Thailand will be based on the requirements 
of the GSP law, Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.), and on Thai progress on IPR protection, including the 
final passage of a copyright act that is consistent with international 
standards, the creation of an IPR court and the rapid implementation of 
Thai obligations under the Uruguay Round intellectual property 
agreements (TRIPs).

III. Public Comments

    Interested parties are invited to submit comments regarding the 
restoration of the GSP benefits for Thailand that are described above. 
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, September 21, 1994. Information and comments 
submitted regarding Thailand's lost GSP benefits 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 and 2007.7. 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. The confidential version of the submission 
should be clearly marked ``Submitted in Confidence'' at the top and 
bottom of each and every page of the document. A nonconfidential 
summary of the confidential information must be included with the 
confidential submission, along with a written explanation of why the 
confidential material should be protected. 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'').
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 94-19713 Filed 8-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M