[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 212 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 55744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27205]



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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Trade Policy Staff Committee; Public Comments on U.S. 
Negotiations With the Russian Federation (Russia) Concerning Its 
Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written 
public comments with respect to market access issues, including but not 
limited to tariffs, non-tariff measures and trade in services, related 
to the accession of Russia to the WTO. Comments received will be 
considered by the Executive Branch in developing U.S. positions and 
objectives for the multilateral and bilateral negotiations that will 
determine the terms of WTO accession for Russia.

DATES: Public comments are due by noon, December 1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Chattin, Director for Tariff Negotiations (202-395-5097), Peter 
Collins, Deputy Assistant USTR for Services and Investment (202-395-
7271) or Cecilia Leahy Klein, Director for WTO Affairs (202-395-3063), 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chairman of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee invites written comments from the public on the market 
access-related issues to be addressed in the course of negotiations 
with Russia for its accession to the WTO. The terms will be negotiated 
in bilateral meetings with government representatives and in meetings 
of the Working Party, established by the Members of the WTO to conduct 
the negotiations.
    The Committee is seeking public comments on the possible effect on 
U.S. trade of Russia's accession to the WTO, with particular reference 
to any currently applied trade measure that could be subject to the 
provisions of the WTO, particularly market access for goods and 
services. Market access issues for goods include, but are not limited 
to, tariff reductions, border measures such as quotas or import 
licenses, customs processing issues such as valuation and certification 
requirements, plant and animal health requirements, food standards, 
restrictions maintained through state trading enterprises, and other 
laws or procedures that currently affect exports from the United States 
(e.g., subsidies, transparency, uniform application of the trading 
system, national treatment, trade performance requirements associated 
with investment). Market access issues for services include, but are 
not limited to, the right of establishment for U.S. services providers, 
the ability to provide services on a cross-border basis, and the 
ability of persons to enter temporarily to provide services.
    All comments will be considered in developing U.S. positions and 
objectives for a request of Russia in the areas of agriculture, 
industrial goods, and trade in services. Information on products or 
practices subject to these negotiations should include, whenever 
appropriate, Russia's import or export tariff classification number for 
the product concerned (generally based on the tariff nomenclature of 
the European Union at the 8-digit level).
    Persons submitting written comments should provide a statement, in 
twenty copies, by noon, Friday, December 1, 1995, to Carolyn Frank, 
Executive Secretary, TPSC, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 
Room 501, 600 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508. Non-
confidential information received will be available for public 
inspection by appointment, in the USTR Reading Room, Room 101, Monday 
through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For 
an appointment call Brenda Webb on 202-395-6186. Business confidential 
information will be subject to the requirements of 15 CFR 2003.6. Any 
business confidential material must be clearly marked as such on the 
cover letter or page and each succeeding page, and must be accompanied 
by a non-confidential summary thereof.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-27205 Filed 11-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M