[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56088-56089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27435]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences; Pakistan; Internationally 
Recognized Worker Rights

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and opportunity for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Administration has decided to suspend some of Pakistan's 
GSP benefits because of insufficient progress on internationally 
recognized worker rights. This notice invites public comments on 
whether the Administration should suspend GSP benefits for sporting 
goods, surgical instruments and/or certain hand-knotted and woven 
carpets.

DATES: Comments are due Wednesday, December 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., Room 518, 
Washington, D.C. 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The GSP Program

    The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to designated eligible 
articles that are imported from designated beneficiary developing 
countries. The program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). The GSP 
program expired on July 31, 1995. A bill to renew the program is 
pending in Congress. This notice solicits public comments, but the 
Administration cannot take any action unless and until the GSP program 
is reauthorized.
    To qualify for GSP privileges, each beneficiary country must comply 
with a number of eligibility requirements. One such requirement is that 
the beneficiary country must be ``taking steps'' (i.e., making 
progress) to provide ``internationally recognized worker rights'' (19 
U.S.C. 2462(b)(7) and (c)(7)).
    The GSP statute defines ``internationally recognized worker 
rights'' as: (1) The right of association; (2) the right to organize 
and bargain collectively; (3) a prohibition against any form of forced 
or compulsory labor; (4) a minimum age for the employment of children; 
and (5) acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, 
hours of work and occupational safety and health (19 U.S.C. 
2462(a)(4)).
    Each year, the Administration conducts a public review process in 
which a beneficiary's compliance with the eligibility requirements can 
be reviewed.

II. Worker Rights in Pakistan

    In June 1993, the Administration received three petitions that 
requested a review of labor law and practice in Pakistan under the 
auspices of the GSP program. In October 1993, the Administration 
announced that the petitions were being accepted for review (see USTR 
Press Release 93-63). Since that time, the United States Government and 
the Government of Pakistan have been working cooperatively to seek 
improved labor law and practice in Pakistan. The principal issues have 
concerned the exemption of the Karachi export processing zone from the 
labor law of Pakistan, the application of the Essential Services Act 
and child and bonded labor.
    In July 1994, the Administration acknowledged the commitment of the 
Government of Pakistan, and the review was continued (see USTR Press 
Release 94-39 and Pakistan Worker Rights Review Summary (July 1994), 
available from USTR). Since that time, consultations have continued and 
the Government of Pakistan has considered a number of actions to bring 
its labor rights regime into closer compliance with international labor 
norms.
    In July 1995, the Administration announced that the review would be 
continued until October to give the Government of Pakistan time to 
fulfill our expectations and understanding that they would take actions 
that would improve labor law and practice in Pakistan (see USTR Press 
Release 95-54).
    Notwithstanding our constructive dialogue with the Government of 
Pakistan and their evident commitment to improve labor law and practice 
in Pakistan, the Administration has now decided to suspend some of 
Pakistan's GSP benefits because of insufficient progress on 
internationally recognized worker rights. Specifically, the 
Administration is considering whether to suspend GSP benefits for 
sporting goods, surgical instruments and/or certain hand-knotted and 
woven carpets, sectors in which child labor is reportedly used.

III. Public Comments

    This notice solicits public comments on which benefits should be 
suspended because Pakistan has made insufficient progress on improving 
labor law and practice. All written comments should be addressed to: 
GSP Subcommittee, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, N.W., Room 518, Washington, D.C. 20508. All 

[[Page 56089]]
submissions must be in English and should conform to the information 
requirements of 15 CFR 2007. Each submission should indicate the 
relevant subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States, if any. A party must provide fourteen copies of its statement 
which must be received by the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee no later 
than 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 6, 1995. Comments received after the 
deadline will not be accepted.
    If the comments contain business confidential information, fourteen 
copies of a non-confidential version must also be submitted. A 
justification as to why the information contained in the submission 
should be treated confidentially must be included in the submission. In 
addition, the submissions containing confidential information should be 
clearly marked ``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of 
the submission. The version that does not contain confidential 
information should also be clearly marked, at the top and bottom of 
each page, ``public version'' or ``non-confidential''.
    Written comments submitted in connection with these decisions, 
except for information granted ``business confidential'' status 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7, will be available for public inspection 
shortly after the filing deadline by appointment only with the staff of 
the USTR Public Reading Room. Other requests and questions should be 
directed to the GSP Information Center at USTR by calling (202) 395-
6971.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-27435 Filed 11-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M