[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 38605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18477]



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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


NAFTA Dispute Settlement Proceeding Concerning Canadian Tariffs 
on Certain U.S. Agricultural Products

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that the Free Trade Commission of the North American 
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), at the request of the United States, has 
established an arbitral panel to examine Canadian tariffs on several 
U.S. agricultural products, specifically poultry, eggs, and barley, 
products made from them and U.S. dairy products. USTR invites written 
comments from the public concerning the issues raised in the dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be 
submitted on or before August 16, 1995, in order to be assured of 
timely consideration by USTR in preparing its first written submission 
to the panel.

ADDRESS: Comments may be submitted to the Office of the General 
Counsel, Attn: Canadian Tariffs Dispute, Room 223, USTR, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Brinza, Senior Advisor and Special Counsel for Natural 
Resources, Office of the General Counsel, USTR, 600 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-7305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the Agreement Establishing the 
World Trade Organization, the Government of Canada committed to convert 
to ``tariff-rate quotas'' (TRQs) the quotas and other non-tariff 
barriers that it maintained on imports of certain agricultural goods. 
These tariff-rate quotas result in significant increases in the duty 
rates Canada applies to these agricultural goods. Canada is, or will 
be, applying these higher tariffs to imports of several U.S. 
agricultural products, specifically poultry, eggs, and barley, on 
products made from them, and on U.S. dairy products.

    The United States has asked for the establishment of an arbitral 
panel under the NAFTA to review whether Canada may apply these higher 
tariff rates consistent with Canada's NAFTA obligations. NAFTA Article 
302 requires Canada to apply tariff rates that are lower than those 
that Canada is applying or will apply through the application of 
tariff-rate quotas to these goods.
    Members of the panel are currently being selected, and the panel is 
expected to meet as necessary in Ottawa, Canada to examine the dispute. 
The panel is expected to issue its final report detailing its findings 
and recommendations within five months after the last panelist is 
selected.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in the dispute.
    The provisions of 15 CFR 2006.13 (a) and (c) (providing that 
comments received will be open to public inspection) and 2006.15 will 
apply to comments received. Comments must be in English and provided in 
fifteen copies. Pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.15, confidential business 
information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' in a 
contrasting color ink at the top of each page.
    USTR will maintain a public file on this dispute settlement 
proceeding, which will include a list of comments received, in the USTR 
Reading Room: Room 101, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington DC. An appointment to 
review the docket (Docket NAFTA/ D-1, ``Canada--Agricultural 
Tariffs''), may be made by calling Brenda Webb, (202) 395-6186. The 
USTR Reading Room is open to the public by appointment only from 10 
a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Jennifer Hillman,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 95-18477 Filed 7-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M